Sunday, November 22, 2009
Arts & Extras: Roanoke opera fan making overtures for 'Live in HD'
Courtesy Metropolitan Opera
Tenor Joseph Calleja is Hoffmann in Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann," which will be broadcast on the Met's "Live in HD" program.
Arts & Extras column
Mike Allen, arts columnist
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Today is the final day of National Opera Week, and so I have a couple of opera-related items to lead with.
During my journalism fellowship in October, I got some experience with opera on the national level, attending a performance of Richard Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier." I also saw a presentation about "Live in HD," the Metropolitan Opera's live telecasts of their productions shown at movie theaters all over the world.
In Southwest Virginia, if you want to see these telecasts, you can drive to Bristol, Lynchburg, Danville or Charlottesville. But they're not available in Roanoke or the New River Valley.
I floated a query on the Arts & Extras blog about the "Live in HD" program and learned that Opera Roanoke board member Carol Fralin has been working for a year and a half to bring "Live in HD" to the Roanoke Valley, but hasn't yet had much luck.
The major issue appears to be technology. The Metropolitan Opera does partner with Regal Cinemas, which operates Valley View Grande 16 and Regal New River Valley Stadium 14, but the theaters don't have the projection equipment necessary to make the live telecasts work. Neither does the Grandin Theatre, and even if it did, Kathy Chittum said the theater doesn't have enough screens to fit the "Live in HD" telecasts into its schedule.
The "Live in HD" broadcasts provide up-close looks at the singers as they act, and also include interviews with the cast, backstage looks at the Met's elaborate sets and even views of the audience, Fralin said.
When the Met began the program three years ago, many local opera companies saw it as potential competition, but since then, attitudes have changed. Opera Roanoke sees bringing "Live in HD" to the valley as a way of recruiting new opera fans.
"Anything that promotes opera in general is ultimately going to promote Opera Roanoke," said development director Jan Smyth.
Fralin's own involvement with the organization is a testament to that effect. She had always liked opera, but when she saw a "Live in HD" broadcast in Richmond, she was blown away and not long after became an Opera Roanoke volunteer.
"I'm all about building new participants," Fralin said.
Opera Roanoke's endowment challenge
To continue, Fralin said that what Opera Roanoke needs most right now to ensure its health is to increase its endowment.
Like many arts organizations, Opera Roanoke hasn't had an easy time of it this past year. The nonprofit eliminated its executive director position in March, and for its 2009-10 season has forgone stage productions in favor of concert opera in order to stay within its budget.
Loyal supporters have continued to donate, but some have reduced the size of their donations, Smyth said.
The opera company announced Tuesday that an anonymous donor has offered to match donations up to $250,000. Pledges paid within the next three years are eligible. If Opera Roanoke can meet its Endowment Fund Challenge goal, its endowment will double in size, to $1 million, Smyth said.
For more information, call 982-2742 or visit www.operaroanoke.org.
'Tis the season
Speaking of music -- is it ever really too early to be thinking about Christmas?
You might already be tired of listening to canned holiday music in department stores, but if you want to hear those timeless tunes done good and proper, opportunities abound in the coming weeks.
The Roanoke College Choir is traditionally first out of the gate here in the valley, and this year the choir's concert at St. Andrew's Catholic Church once again serves as the unofficial kickoff to the Christmas concert season, with performances at 3 and 5 p.m. Nov. 29.
"Lessons and Carols of Christmas XXV" marks the 25th year of this concert series. Choir director Jeffrey Sandborg says that this time around, the choir will be joined by the college's all-woman Oriana Singers. The performance is free. Donations given at the concert benefit Roanoke Area Ministries.
That's only the beginning.
On Dec. 4 and 5 at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church, director of music and fine arts Richard Cummins will celebrate his 30th year as the church's organist by giving two special Christmas concerts.
He'll be joined by his daughters, violinist Cenovia Cummins and cellist Stephanie Cummins, both of whom have pursued successful careers as musicians in New York, with numerous stage and movie soundtrack credits on their resumes. The $30 ticket includes a candlelight dinner. For more information, call 344-6225 or visit www.gmumc.org/finearts.
On Dec. 6, the Roanoke Symphony Chorus and members of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra will perform passages from Handel's "Messiah" in Shaftman Performance Hall at Jefferson Center. Tickets are $21 to $41, $7 students. For more information, call or visit www.rso.com.
There are certain to be many, many more events. Keep an eye on the Extra section calendar for further Christmas-themed events.
Roanoke museum closes
No, it's not the Taubman Museum of Art, or any of the residents of Center in the Square.
But if you've ever been curious about visiting the Car Less Brit Museum -- that curiosity at Kirk Avenue and Second Street in downtown Roanoke -- you're too late. The museum shut its doors this month.
The quirky exhibit was a homage to Roanoke libraries resource development coordinator River Laker's attempt to live a car-free lifestyle. Laker, a cycling advocate, has been involved in a number of odd stunts over the past few months meant to promote cycling as a viable alternative to driving.
Laker's six-month lease -- which was rent-free -- has run out, and he has said he doesn't intend to renew it.
Never one to miss a chance for showmanship, Laker has posted a video on Facebook in which two "masked marauders" -- one of whom looks suspiciously like Laker -- dramatically dismantle the exhibits in the dead of night.
Arts & Extras blog
For more news about the arts in the Roanoke Valley, including Monday's recipients of the Ann Fralin Awards from the Taubman Museum of Art, and a complete cast list of Mill Mountain Theatre's upcoming production of "Annie Jr.," visit blogs.roanoke.com/arts.
