Sunday, March 27, 2016

Opera Workshop's Frantic Musical Chairs for Lovers in “Speed Dating Tonight!”

 Steampunk Girl, Panic Attack, Lives at Home and Love Me, Love My Cats! are a few of the characters enacting a frantic contemporary mating ritual in the comic opera Speed Dating Tonight! performed by the HSU Opera Workshop for four performances beginning Thursday March 24 in Gist Hall Theatre. 

 It’s musical chairs for lovers as 15 hopefuls in a bar introduce themselves (some truthfully, some not) with a five minute time limit, and the plot thickens along with the comedy. “Laughing together is a wonderful way to explore the culture of the modern dating world,” said director Elisabeth Harrington. 

 This is the California premiere (and 25th production) of this one-hour opera by American composer Michael Ching, who allows directors flexibility in various aspects of the show. “So no two productions will be the same,” Harrington said. “The characters are fresh and modern, and very diverse. I think audiences will respond to the humanity of the piece--humanity in all its awkwardness as we seek a suitable match!” 

 The Opera Workshop performs Speed Dating Tonight! Thursday through Saturday, March 24-26 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday March 27 at 2 p.m. in Gist Hall Theatre at HSU. Tickets are $10 general, $5 seniors and children, $3 HSU students with ID, from HSU Box Office (826-3928) or at the door. Directed by Elisabeth Harrington, produced by HSU Music Department.

Media: Mad River Union, Times-Standard Urge, North Coast Journal, HSU Now

Speed Dating Tonight: Notes and Bio

Notes by director Elisabeth Harrington:

"I chose Speed Dating Tonight! because it is very modern and relevant--the text expresses fears and feelings many people seem to have about the "dating game." Also, it is a comedy! Laughing together is a wonderful way to explore the culture and "isms" of the modern dating world.

Opera Workshop rehearsal
The action takes place in a bar where all 15 daters have gathered to interact with one another (5 minutes at time!) on speed dates. As each character introduces themselves through a brief aria, we gain an understanding of the many ways we present ourselves to the world. Some are truthful and accurate, and some are not.

 I think most people will recognize a character trait that they possess themselves, at least to some extent. Some of the "daters" are: Steampunk Girl, Lives at Home, Feeling Awkward, Talkative Girl, Love me, love my Cats!, Combat Photographer, I like this bar! and Panic Attack.

 There are 19 cast members: 15 daters, 3 people who work in the bar (Bartender, Waitress and Busboy) and Kaylee, the coordinator for the Speed Dating event. All but one of the performers are current HSU students;one is a community member. Some sing more than others, but almost everyone is stage the entire time.

 The characters are fresh and modern, and very diverse. Directors have (almost) complete discretion to place the daters' interactions in whatever order bet fits the casts' strengths. This flexibility is crucial , and also ensures that no two productions will be the same. (Just like no two people are the same!)

HSU student Noah Sims at Opera Workshop rehearsal
Since the premiere in 2013, there have been 24 different productions of "Speed Dating Tonight!" largely on university campuses. This will be the California premiere!

 I think audiences will respond to the humanity of the piece--humanity in all its awkwardness as we seek a suitable match! It's something almost everyone can relate to on some level. The casual atmosphere of the show will also appeal to younger audiences.

It is definitely an ensemble show, and features several large ensemble numbers. Each cast member also has one or more extended solo moments (also making the show a good choice for developing the skills of young singer-actors-a definite requirement when I'm choosing repertoire.).The whole show takes place in just around an hour. This, too, is crucial, since we have 9 short weeks of rehearsal each spring semester before the performances (with only 4 hours weekly, unlike the bigger musicals like "Kiss Me Kate!" which rehearsed every night.)"


Composer Michael Ching


Michael Ching is a composer, conductor and arts administrator.  In addition to Speed Dating Tonight!, his opera compositions include an a cappella version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Corps of Discovery, King of the Clouds and Buosco's Ghost.  His most recent opera, which just premiered, is Alice Ryley.

A performance of Ching's piano concerto is included in the 25th anniversary commemorative recording of the San Jose Chamber Orchestra.  Ching was Artistic Director of Opera Memphis from 1992 to 2010, and is now Music Director of Nickel City Opera, the regional opera of Buffalo and western New York.  He currently lives in Ames, Iowa.

More detailed biographies are here and here.  Here is Michael Ching's blog.

Speed Dating Tonight! is currently his most popular opera.  It premiered at the Janiec Opera of the Brevard Music Center in 2013, conceived by director Dean Anthony, with lyrics and music by Michael Ching.

"With traditional opening and closing numbers, the middle section of the opera is a group of one-to-two-minute “dater arias” which can be put together according to the number of singers available. The order, key, and, in many cases even the gender, of the daters is flexible.

"Some are moving, some are funny. Some are caricatures, some are sincere. There are twenty-five dater arias and duets from which every producer will choose the ones they want to include."

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Guest Cellist Reveals Powerful, Prolific and Unknown Composer

 Cellist Elizabeth Grunin performs two works by 20th century composer Mieczyslaw Weinberg in an intimate Guest Artist lecture and recital on Saturday March 26 in Fulkerson Recital Hall. 

 “Mieczyslaw Weinberg is a name hardly known in the classical music world. However his works and life story certainly demand recognition,” said Dr. Grunin. “We will be become acquainted with this incredible composer and his life as well as explore his abilities at combining the traditions of classical and baroque composers with modern, 20th century harmony, exhibited in his works for unaccompanied cello.” 

 Elizabeth Grunin was last heard at HSU almost exactly a year ago, when she performed with the Lancaster Trio. She is a founding member of that ensemble. Born in Ukraine, she grew up in Sacramento, performing there and in the Bay Area. She currently teaches at several Midwestern universities.

 Composer Weinberg, writes music journalist Martin Anderson, “was one of the 20th century’s most powerful and prolific composers, and one of its least well known, certainly outside of his adoptive Russia.” After fleeing the Nazi invasion of Poland, Weinberg became close friends with the famous Russian composer Shostakovich, who called Weinberg “one of the most outstanding composers of the present day.” 

 Dr. Grunin will perform Weinberg’s Sonata No. 1 for Violoncello and Prelude 21 for Cello. The audience for this lecture-recital will be seated on the Fulkerson Recital Hall stage with Dr. Grunin for a more intimate musical experience. 

Cellist Elizabeth Grunin performs on Saturday March 26 at 8 p.m. in Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus. Tickets are $10 general/$5 seniors, children and students, from the HSU Box Office (826-3928) or at the door.This Guest Artist Series concert is produced by the HSU Music Department.

Media: Mad River Union, Times-Standard Urge, North Coast Journal, HSU Now.

Elizabeth Grunin Lecture Recital: Notes and Program

Mieczyslaw Weinberg is a name hardly known in the classical music world. However his works and life story certainly demand recognition. Weinberg escaped Nazi-invaded Poland, became best friends with one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, and never stopped composing even when all that was required from him was cartoon music. We will be become acquainted with this incredible composer and his life as well as explore his abilities at combining the traditions of classical and baroque composers with modern, 20th century harmony, exhibited in his works for unaccompanied cello.”--Elizabeth Grunin 

More information about the composer:
Weinberg site by Anton Uzunov (contains additional links)
Martin Anderson at Classical.net

Program

 Prelude 21 of 24 Preludes for Solo Cello

Sonata No. 1 for Violoncello Solo Op. 72
Adagio
Allegretto
Allegro

Guest Artist Biography

Dr. Elizabeth Grunin began studying cello at the Special Music School in Kharkov, Ukraine. In 1992, her family moved to Sacramento, California where she continued her musical studies. Elizabeth was an active member of the musical community in Sacramento, performing in numerous orchestras including the Camellia Symphony, the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, Merced Symphony Orchestra, and North Bay Opera. In 2008, Elizabeth entered the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she completed both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in the studio of Jennifer Culp.

Dr. Grunin has participated in such summer music programs as the Zephyr Chamber Festival in Italy, the Classical Music Festival in Austria, and the Kornberg Music Festival in Germany. She moved to Lincoln, Nebraska to pursue her Doctorate degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in the studio of Dr. Karen Becker which she completed in 2015.

Currently, Dr. Grunin is adjunct faculty at Nebraska-Wesleyan University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and, Wayne State College and is a coach at the Navarro River String Camp in California. She holds a full-time position with the Lincoln Symphony and is a founding member of the Lancaster Trio.