The Call of the Opera: Volunteering

John Bowen, director of Opera Vivente in Baltimore, is reaching out for more help behind the scenes. It looks like mainly office support work, but all opera companies have that necessary aspect of their operations. At least I don't have to sing something. I just sent in my "application."

Opera Vivente performs opera on a chamber scale either translated into English or original English-language works. They put on three main productions with four performances each during the season in the church hall of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Baltimore's Mount Vernon cultural district and sometimes in the church itself when the theme is appropriate. In the 2006-07 season, Vivente revived Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors," and this season they gave the North American premiere of Jonathan Dove's "Tobias and the Angel." Last summer, they began making an appearance at Baltimore's Artscape festival with a free performance of Bernstein's "Trouble in Tahiti." I'm particularly excited about Vivente's promotion of Britten operas: This is where I first heard "The Turn of the Screw," and I'm looking forward to next season's "Albert Herring." Modern English opera aside, I loved Vivente's production of Handel's "Alcina" last fall, with the enchanted isle updated to the psychedelic 1960's.

Here is a link to Opera Vivente's call for volunteers.

Comments

[John Bowen]

Thanks Clayton for sending in you "application". It was accepted of course. With regards to the type of volunteering needed, right now since we're mostly in planning mode the bulk of it is office type stuff but once the season gears up there's all sorts of things to do, e.g. supering (onstage but not singing), ushering, set building and striking, selling conscessions, etc., etc., etc.