For UTOT: A Spittoon Chorus

Spittoon Chorus

from

A Hillbilly Opera that Kevin Class will probably 

never get around to actually finishing.

by.....

Guido Flarfenfarkenzamboni

(aka:  Kevin Class)

copyright 2011 Mountain Bean Publications

It has been said that "Kevin Class only composes on a dare."  This, I frankly admit, is true.  Even a good dare is rarely enough to get me to put on paper the freak show of musical thoughts that tumble around inside my head.  However, something is in the wind these days that motivated me.  In part a wedding gift (since I'm too cheap to send a real one) and welcome gift for James and Kathryn; a parting shot (mind out of the gutter) for Patrick, and a hillybilly hug for Eileen, this little video and the composition it features is my gift of all UTOTers past, present and future.

Yee-haw!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-2012 Season

By now most of you have heard that we have hired James Marvel to head our program as the new Director of Opera Theatre.  We will also be welcoming a new Lecturer-Coach/Accompanist to take over the reigns from Patrick Harvey, who is heading off to do great things for Houston Grand!  It is an exciting time of transition here at UT, and the coming season is sure to be tremendously rewarding.


James has introduced himself, to those of you who are returning, by announcing the repertoire we have selected for this coming season.  While much more information will be forthcoming from both of us, I would like to get a bit of preliminary information out to you regarding these works (for those of you who wish to invest some time in acquainting yourself with these scores).


Our Fall production will be a double-bill featuring Gian Carlo Menotti's The Medium and Puccini's Suor Angelica.  Incidentally, 2011 is the centennial of Menotti's birth!


The score to The Medium is published by G. Schirmer

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/The-Medium/3168235?aff_id=453775

The preferred edition for Suor Angelica is the Ricordi edition.  

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Suor-Angelica/8111987?aff_id=453775

While you may use Schirmer, or any other edition you may already own, the source we will be referencing will be the Ricordi.  Page and rehearsal numbers used in notes and schedules will refer to this Piano/Vocal score.

Suor Angelica will be performed in Italian.  

You may access a literal translation, with IPA, by referring to Nico Castel's The Complete Puccini Libretti.   Music Library Reference ML49.P83 N53 1993

UTOT's Spring production will be Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro

This work will also be performed in Italian, and the Nico Castel translation can be found in The Libretti of Mozart's Completed Operas, volume two   

Music Library Reference ML49.M83 C315 1997

While any reliable score you may have in your library is acceptable, it is highly recommended that you consider investing in the Baerenreiter edition.  Baerenreiter is the most respected, authoritative edition of Mozart's works, and it will be the source referenced for questions concerning text, ornamentation, articulation, pitches, etc..  It is more expensive than other editions, but very much worth having in your personal library.

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Le-nozze-di-Figaro-The-Marriage-of-Figaro/2435211#?aff_id=453775

In addition to having a piano/vocal score, those who are cast in this production will be asked to purchase a copy of the full-score (Dover or other study score edition).  More information will be provided later, but plans are being made to incorporate group score study into the preparation process for this production.

Auditions for Le Nozze di Figaro will be held in October (date TBA).

There will be much more information to come throughout the summer.  I am working with James Marvel to plan and prepare our offerings for the coming season, so do make a point of checking in from time to time.

With all best wishes for a wonderful summer, I look forward to a fabulous season with UTOT.

                                                                              --- K. Class

UTOT Rehearsal Schedule Week of March 21-27

March 21-March 27

ALBERT HERRING

Note regarding musical work:

As we are “kicking into high gear” with work/run-throughs beginning this week, I have not added specific coaching calls for anyone this week.  HOWEVER, that does not mean that individual work is not needed.  We are trusting each one of you to take responsibility for your own comfort with your parts.  If you need help with securing portions of your role, please contact Shinyoung, Jonathan or Melony to set up some individual coaching time (during opera hours preferably).  A score such as Albert Herring needs consistent attention, so please take advantage of the resource we have in having these pianists at our disposal.  

As we continue to work and run larger portions of the show, I will utilize the blog for more musical notes and instructions.  It is important to work efficiently during rehearsals so that the vital staging work can get done.  Please make a habit of REVIEWING YOUR MUSIC before each rehearsal, and check the blog regularly for notes and comments beyond those communicated in rehearsal.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication!

-- K.C.

Monday, March 21, 2011 3:40-6:40pm

Opera Room McConnell/Harvey  (Class w/ Orchestra)

STAGING                     Act III (cont.) Sid/Nancy/Mum/Vicar/Miss W/

                        Flo/Lady B; ADD Mayor/Budd @ 4:30; ADD Albert @ 5:30

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 6:30-7:30pm  McConnell/Class/Maness

Role memorization exam.  Each cast member will be requested to sing, from memory, one or more excerpts, chosen at random, from anywhere within the scope of his/her assigned role.

7:30-10 p.m. Act III (cont.) FULL III Cast (no Kids); ADD Kids @ 9

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 3:40-6:30pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/Kim

STAGING    Work/Run II-ii, III FULL Act II-ii/III Cast as called;

Thursday, March 24, 2011 7:00-10:00pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/Harvey

STAGING     Work/Run Act II-ii/III FULL Act II-ii/III Cast as called


                                                                           Friday, March 25, 2011 3:40-6:40pm

Opera Room McConnell/Harvey (Class w/Orchestra)

STAGING Work/Run I FULL Act I Cast as called

Saturday, March 26, 2011 1:00-5:00pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/Maness

STAGING Work/Run II-i FULL Act II-i Cast as called

Sunday, March 27, 2011 2:00-6:00pm

Opera Room McConnell/Harvey 

STAGING Work/Run II-ii/III FULL Act II-ii/III Cast as called

Rehearsal Notes: Monday, March 7, 2011

ALBERT HERRING

MUSICAL NOTES

Monday, March 7, 2011

Act II, Scene I

• Florence p. 187 solidify rhythm “For three weeks..”
• Cis p. 194 (3rd syst.) early on “hooray for the...”
• Mum 195 watch conductor “very nice I’m sure”
• Billows 195 don’t rush “Thank you children”

195 take time on “Thank you Miss Wordsworth”

198 in general, take your time. Well-poised; self-indulgent.

Fill out your long notes/vowels.

***** 201 (3rd syst.)  ***E-FLATS “and leave the rest to nature”

• Tutti 201-203 “Hooray” - more energy, crisp rhythm on eighth-notes
• Mayor 205-207 watch conductor coming out of fermatas
• Tutti 208 do not slow down too much (too soon) “well done”
• Mayor 208 keep rhythm clean “my council wishes...”
• Florence 217 pitches “say thank you”
• Tutti 218 secure entrances/rhythms
• Tutti after #41 don’t drag; good, energized initial consonants
• Tutti after #44 Review this music! (some staggered entrances were incorrect - pp. 227-228)

• Florence 228 pitches “Go on Albert”
• Tutti 230 (#46) Do not start glissando too soon (Hold pitch for one full bar followed by slow gliss.)
• Tutti 231-234 Continue to review entrances for sake of security.  Overall tempo should be brisk but fairly accurate.

• Cis/Em/Har “Tee hee...”:  start louder so it doesn’t get lost in the texture
• Florence 234 Do not jump in too quickly “From the wrong side”  The tempo here is slower, so take your time

UTOT Rehearsal Schedule Week of March 7-11

ALBERT HERRING

Monday, March 7, 2011 3:40-6:40pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/Maness

STAGING  Work/Run Act II-i II-i Cast as called

Tuesday, March 8, 2011 7:00-10:00pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/Kim

STAGING   Work II-ii Albert; ADD Sid/Nancy @ 7:30; 

ADD Mum @ 8:30

Wednesday, March 9, 2011 3:40-6:40pm

Opera Room McConnell/Harvey  (Class w/Orchestra)

STAGING     Begin III Nancy; ADD Kids/Mayor @ 4:15;ADD Sid @ 4:45; ADD Budd/Mum@ 5:30

S. Kim  Rm. 118

3:30-5:30 Albert

Ziegler  Rm. 41

3:30-5:30 Wordsworth

Thursday, March 10, 2011 7:00-10:00pm

Opera Room McConnell/Harvey

STAGING     Work III Nancy/Kids/Mayor; ADD Sid @

7:45; ADD Budd/Mum @ 8:30

Friday, March 11, 2011 3:40-5:30pm

Opera Room

MUSICAL REHEARSAL   TBD

UTOT Rehearsal Schedule Week of February 28-March 6

ALBERT HERRING

Monday, February 28, 2011 3:30-6:30pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/S. Kim

STAGING     Act I - ii Albert/Emmie;  ADD Mum/Flo@4:30

ADD remaining Committee@5:30

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 7:00-10:00pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/Harvey

STAGING   Act I-ii Kids/Sid:  ADD Albert @7:45; ADD Nancy@8:30

Wednesday, March 2, 2011 3:30-6:30pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/Maness

STAGING     Work/Run I-ii I-ii Cast as called

Thursday, March 3, 2011 7:00-10:00pm

Opera Room McConnell/Harvey

STAGING     Work Act II-i II-i Cast as called

Friday, March 4, 2011 3:30-6:30pm

Opera Room McConnell/Harvey

STAGING     Work/Run 1-i FULL Act I-i Cast as called.

S. Kim  Rm. 118

3:30-5:30     Albert

Ziegler  (McConnell Studio)

3:30-4:30     Emmie/Cis/Harry

Sunday, March 6, 2011  2-5:30pm

Opera Room McConnell/Harvey

STAGING Begin Act II-ii Albert; ADD Sid/Nancy @ 3:00; ADD Mum @ 4:00

UTOT Revised Rehearsal Schedule Week of February 22nd

ALBERT HERRING

Hello everyone:

Please find below a revised game plan for this week. This schedule includes Michael's calls for Staging Rehearsals this week.  Due to his plans, the coaching calls have been altered.  Please disregard previous schedules.    -KC

Monday, February 21, 2011 3:30-6:30pm

Opera Room McConnell/Maness

STAGING     Continue Act I; Scene i Flo; ADD remaining I;i cast @ 4:30

S. Kim  Rm. 118

3:30-5:00     Albert

Ziegler  (McConnell Studio)

3:30-5:00     Mum

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 7:00-10:00pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/Harvey

STAGING    Begin Act II; Scene i Nancy, Sid, Flo; ADD Miss W/Kids @8:30

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 3:30-6:30pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/S. Kim

STAGING     Act II; i (cont.) Sid/Nancy; ADD Miss W/Kids@4:15

Harvey   Rm 40

3:30-5:00 Mum

5:00-6:30 Albert

Maness  Rm. 118

3:30-4:30 Mayor

4:15-5:30 Billows (Ballew)

Ziegler  (McConnell Studio)

3:30-4:15 Emmie/Cis/Harry

4:30-5:30 Vicar

Thursday, February 24, 2011 7:00-10:00pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/S. Kim

STAGING     Act II; i FULL Act II;i Cast

Friday, February 25, 2011 3:30-6:30pm

Opera Room McConnell/Class/Maness

STAGING     Act II; i FULL Act II, i Cast

S. Kim  Rm. 118

3:30-5:30     Albert

Ziegler  (McConnell Studio)

3:30-5:30     Billows