I will be playing in the Eastman Opera Company’s upcoming show “Street Scene,” by Kurt Weill. It’s an interesting combination of opera and broadway styles, and it’s so much fun to play.
Lots of glisses, lots of arpeggios!
I’ve tried explaining the plot to people, and it always comes out very garbled and confused. "Well, it’s about these people who live in a tenement building in New York in the 1940s, and they complain about how hot it is and get into squabbles about communism and… yeah.“
Basically, it’s set in front of a tenement building in New York and follows the troubles and travails of its residents for two days. I know that doesn’t give you much to go on, but it’s a great story and has great music. I tend to like operas that deal with ordinary people (rather than kings or gods and whatnot). The characters of "Street Scene” sing about things we can all relate to - graduation, the weather, their hopes and dreams. They even sing about how much they love ice cream.
The shows will be April 4th, 5th, and 6th at 7:30 and April 7th at 2pm in the Eastman Theatre. There will be sex, death, and great music - what more could you ask for in an opera?