January's Guild Chapter Meetings

Des Moines: Monday, February 8 at 7:00

Ames: Tuesday, February 9 at 7:30

Indianola: Thursday, February 25 at 7:00

John Michael Moore Gives Successful Concert in Des Moines

Baritone John Michael Moore gave a wonderful concert in early January for nearly 200 appreciative guests. He was accompanied by pianist Korey Barrett for a program that included beautiful art songs from composers like Schubert and Finzi and operatic treats by Mozart and Korngold. The encore was one of John's personal favorites, Billy Bigelow's "Soliloquy," from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel.

Above, John posed for a picture with long-time Guild members, Bernie and Linda White.

Ames Chapter Enjoys Two Programs in January

Members attending the January meeting got two programs, not just one. Mary Creswell, member of the ISU Music faculty and Director of the ISU Opera Studio, joined us to help celebrate the cooperation between the Opera Studio and the Ames Chapter in staging the winter gala. Mary sang several selections.

The second part of the program featured Virginia McKeever discussing "Opera Costuming". Virginia has helped with the custuming of numerous opera companies, including DMMO. As a highlight of her presentation she brought and displayed a number of actual costumes, discussing how they were constructed and how they were appropriate to the production they were used in.

Above, Ginny McKeever shows off one fo the six costumes she brought to illustrate her work. Click here to see more photos from the meeting.

Indianola Chapter

Members of the Indianola Guild gave a warm welcome on a cold January night to the OPERA Iowa troupe. Guild members provided the dinner, but the singers provided the entertainment—literally singing for their supper. What a grand night!

Since then, Guild members have enjoyed serving as “pseudo” childlike audiences for the troupe during rehearsals to help them prepare for performances and workshops on the road.

Met Opera Auditions

On January 9, the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions for the Iowa district were held in the Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall on the Iowa State University campus. 28 singers performed two arias each for the panel of three judges. At the end of the day, three winners advanced to the regional competition and two singers received encouragement awards. Click here to see more photos from the Auditions.

Above, mezzo-soprano Jill Phelps received an award given in honor of the Ames Chapter of DMMO's Guild presented by Chapter co-president Dilys Morris.

The News of the Day February, 2010
Editors:
Fred Brown-Ames,
Julia Hagen-Indianola
and McB McManus-DMMO

Des Moines Chapter: Monday, February 8, 7:00 pm
Home of Bruce Hughes and Randy Hamilton

Mardi Gras!

Laissez les bon temps roulez! The OPERA Iowa will join members of the Des Moines Chapter to celebrate Mardi Gras with tasty appetizers and refreshments...and some great music! The OPERA Iowa singers will entertain with a few numbers. Don't miss this opportunity to socialize and hear about upcoming plans and special events. Please contact the DMMO office at (515) 961-6221 for address and directions to Bruce and Randy's home.

Ames Chapter: Tuesday, February 9, 7:30 pm
St. John's by the Campus Episcopal Church (2338 Lincoln Way in Ames)

"The Beginnings of Opera" by Jean Meek

Jean Meek, a member of the Ames Chapter, will present a program on "The Beginnings of Opera". Jean has presented a number of interesting programs to the chapter in past years and has also taught classes on opera for the Iowa State college for Seniors.

Indianola Chapter: Thursday, February 25, 7:00 pm
Duncan Hall, Amy Robertson Music Center, Simpson College

"Birth of an Opera" by Dr. Michael Patterson

At 7 PM on February 25 Indianola Chapter members will meet in Duncan Hall at Simpson College for “Birth of an Opera” with Dr. Michael Patterson to hear about his experiences producing an opera. Dr. Patterson is the composer of two children's operas--A Dream Fulfilled: The Saga of George Washington Carver and The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Several students from Simpson's Vocal Music Department will be on hand to perform some of Dr. Patterson's solo songs and arias.

Mark Your Calendars Now For Upcoming Events

Wine & Food Showcase
Date: Friday, March 5

Time: 5:30 pm

Location: Downtown Des Moines Marriott

Tickets: $50 per person or $35 each for groups of 8 or more. Order your tickets online or call the DMMO Box office at (515) 961-6221.

Arias in Ames

Arias in Ames presents OPERA Iowa Singers

Date: March 7

Time: 2:00 pm

Location: Northminster Presbyterian Church (1416 20th Street, Ames)

Tickets: $15 per person (students are free). Call (515) 961-6221 for reservations or click here to reserve your seats online. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Guild Night at the Opera

As you make your plans for next summer's opera season, consider joining members of all three Guild Chapters to celebrate another Festival Season at a performance of Susannah!

Date: July 7

Time: 7:30 pm

Location: Blank Performing Arts Center in Indianola

Contact the DMMO Box Office at (515) 961-6221 to reserve your tickets!

"The Met Live in HD" Broadcasts

The Metropolitan Opera's "Live in HD" series begins later this month and Iowa Public Radio is going to be the local media sponsor for the 2009/2010 broadcasts at movie theaters around the state. DMMO will once again partner with IPR to host the Central Iowa broadcasts at Movies 12 in Ames and Century Theater at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines.

This month's broadcasts:

Carmen – Bizet
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 (6:30 pm CT)
Running time: 3 hours, 30 minutes (1 intermission).

One of the most popular operas of all time, Carmen "is about sex, violence, and racism—and its corollary: freedom," says Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre about his new production of Bizet's drama. "It is one of the inalienably great works of art. It's sexy, in every sense. And I think it should be shocking." Elîna Garanèa sings the seductive gypsy of the title for the first time at the Met, opposite Roberto Alagna as the obsessed Don José.

Discounted vouchers for live performances for Cedar Falls, Dubuque, West Des Moines, Ames and Iowa City sold out. Vouchers for encore performances sold out in Iowa City. You can still purchase regular priced tickets at the local theater.

Simon Boccanegra – Verdi
Saturday, February 6, 2010 (12:00 pm CT)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 (6:30 pm CT)
Running time: 3 hours, 40 minutes (2 intermissions).

Four decades into a legendary Met career, tenor Plácido Domingo makes history singing the title role in Verdi's gripping political thriller, which is written for a baritone. Adrianne Pieczonka, Marcello Giordani, and James Morris are his co-stars in this moving and tragic story of a father and his lost daughter.

Conductor: James Levine; Production: Giancarlo del Monaco; Adrianne Pieczonka, Marcello Giordani, Plácido Domingo, James Morris

Discounted vouchers for live performances for Cedar Falls, Dubuque, Ames, West Des Moines and Iowa City sold out. Vouchers for encore performances sold out in Iowa City. You can still purchase regular priced tickets at the local theater.

Visit Iowa Public Radio's website to learn more about purchasing discounted ticket vouchers.

Tired of Winter?

If you are getting tired of winter in Iowa (Aren't we all?) and are thinking of getting away this spring, why not consider attending an opera in a midwestern city. Listed below are operas being produced this spring in neighboring cities. Details can be found on the websites of the various companies. If you attend a performance at another opera company, consider writing a review for our Guild Newsletter! Reviews can be sent to mmcmanus@dmmo.org.

Lyric Opera of Chicago
The Elixir of Love (Jan 23 - Feb 22)
The Damnation of Faust (Feb 20 - Mar 17)
The Marriage of Figaro (Feb 28 - Mar 27)

Minnesota Opera (St. Paul)
La Bohème (Mar 6 - 14)
Salome (Apr 10 -24)

Opera Omaha
The Marriage of Figaro (Feb 26, 28)
So in Love with Broadway (April 16, 18)

Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Rigoletto (Mar 20, 24, 26, 28)
Don Giovanni (Apr 24, 28, 30; May 2)

Opera Theatre of St. Louis
The Marriage of Figaro (May 22 - Jun 26)
Eugene Onegin (May 29 - Jun 27)
A Little Night Music (Jun 6 -19)
The Golden Ticket (Jun 13-26)

Madison Opera
The Flying Dutchman (Apr 9, 11)

Florentine Opera Company (Milwaukee)
Elmer Gentry (Mar 19, 21)
Rigoletto (May 21, 22, 23)

Note: When dates listed with a dash (e.g., Jan 23 - Feb 22) the opera will be performed only on several dates within that time period.

March's Guild Meetings

Des Moines: March 15--Preview of The Marriage of Figaro
Ames: March 9--Preview of The Marriage of Figaro
Indianola: March 25--Preview of The Marriage of Figaro

Each spring, in March, April and May, the Guild Chapters typically host their opera previews. These meetings offer a great opportunity to become familiar with the operas that we'll see on DMMO's mainstage this summer.

The News of the Day is the e-newsletter of Des Moines Metro Opera's Guild. We welcome submissions from all Guild members; please send all materials to McB at mmcmanus@dmmo.org.