The Party

Here at the opera, we have our noses pressed quite firmly to the grindstone. We're throwing a HUGE PARTY at the end of this week -- perhaps you've heard? -- and we're prepping all the last minute details. Singers and conductor are coming to town! Street fair is coming together! Orchestra begins rehearsing in a few days! We have a request in with the rain gods to cut it out already!

Seriously: cut it out.
 
The opera chorus took to the streets on Sunday afternoon to sing an gala rehearsal downtown in Director Park. Sadly, La Bloggette (trying out some new names this week, what do you think?) could not be there as she had a bad cold she was hoping not to spread.

Incidentally, this is what you do when you're sick and you work with people who have to perform in a few days:



I hear the rehearsal was a raging success. One of our choristers, Kimberly Goodwin-Helton, took a fun photo from the stage:



Look at those die-hard fans out there, with their umbrellas! You people are rockstars.

Anyway. La Bloggette is in the throes of last-minute gala prep. The dress is on its hook. Pearls are polished. Party shoes are pulled from the shelf. As you will learn, Portland Opera does NOT take its parties lightly.

Don't have a ball gown? No problem! Come to the street fair! You guys, I love a good street fair. Don't get me wrong -- I can't wait to wear The Dress -- but I'm a little sad not to have the power to be two places at once, because the street fair is going to be its own brand of fabulous. A simultaneous but separate brand of fabulous from the concert inside. So if you don't feel like getting gussied up next Saturday night, you should still swing by Keller Auditorium, grab a bite, hear the bands, watch the simulcast, and stay for the movie!

(In case you haven't already seen them, the details are here.)

And look for me: I'll be in the beautiful princess dress.

The POSAs

We have new POSAs! They are fantastic! I share the music library with them and so far they are a hoot. They performed for the company at our monthly Company Lunch, and they are gonna just blow your socks off this year.

They've only been here since Wednesday, so I haven't yet interviewed them for the blog. In fact, I haven't told them I'm the blogger yet because it's way more fun to listen in on their conversations in hopes of hearing something blog-worthy.

Sorry, guys. The cat's out of the bag?

Anyway: Here's a sneak peak. You'll learn more about them in the months to come.

Nick Nelson, Bass!
You already know this guy! He's back & we look forward to his second year with us.

Andre Chiang, Baritone!

Caitlin Mathes, Mezzo!

Lindsay Ohse: Soprano!
Blogger note: That's pronounced OH-See.

The Leg

Since I last wrote about the leg, it's popped up in a few more places. This is the kind of environment we work in.

Overheard in the Office: Gala edition

"I'm really working hard on my Puerto Rican accent."

"What does a performance anvil even look like? Will it scream 'not a performance anvil' if it's blue?"