Hoy he escuchado a 2 entrevistas interesantes.
1. Elizabeth Caballero - El video de La Rueda Bohemia tiene tambien una entravista con su padre, que ha escrito un libro de poesia. Todo esta en Espanol. La entrevista es muy interesante. Ella habla de los 3 tenores y su experiencia con ellos, y mucho mas.
2. Nathan Gunn - Entrevista con Aspen Public Radio sobre mucho, incluyendo unas palabras sobre Rape of Lucretia. La entrevista esta en ingles.
Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
75% Synopsis
I did get to listen to the Gunn interview this morning. I was at work and, you know, working, so I couldn't give it my 100% attention, but here's what I remember.
Let's see... he told the plot of the opera - his character, Tarquinius, isn't really a bad guy. Some other dude says something about all women being whores (he was careful to point out that it was a quote when he said it) and Tarq is like, NO, she's not, she's GOOD and that he can prove she's chaste by seeing if she resists. If she does, she is. Um... right. Hence the word "rape" in the title.
The interviewer asked him what it was like playing a role like this, where his character does something so bad. I don't remember his reply but he did say something about being able to turn it off when you leave so you don't take the bad feelings with you, something like that. And also that he plays other characters who are better than he is, and that sort of balances it all out. They played a clip from Billy Budd as an example.
After the clip the interviewer said she always enjoys watching the guest listen to him or herself, and how does he like it? There was some joking in there (working, sorry, I missed it but heard the laughing) and he said that he tries not to pick himself apart (something about his wife disagreeing??) and no one likes hearing a recording of themselves and that he tries to hear the musicality of it. Something like that.
They talked about the baritone voice type, and that Elvis and Bing Crosby were baritones, and the types of parts baritones have in different types of operas.
He talked about how he got started singing and got all nostalgic about this car, a 1970 Plymouth Satellite, (I wrote that down) and talked about stuff I've read/heard in other interviews.
Regarding having a pretty voice - his first voice teacher told him that having a pretty voice is a gift - compared it to having pretty eyes. Out of your control.
Oh THEN she played a bit of Papageno and asked us to excuse the quality but it's a homemade recording. Ha! Damn I know that approximately 2 readers will understand my reaction to that. Too bad.
Um.. he talked about using the stomach muscles that contract when you cough, not the ... what did he call it... vanity muscles? Again... I was paying about 75% attention.
And I will leave you with this... he said it in the middle but I can't help but revise the order for effect... (I was at work and that's my job!!!) He says he tells his students to follow their bliss - to be honest and sing where and what they're comfortable with.
Oh and one more thing: The theater where RoL is taking place is so small, he said he can reach out from the stage and almost touch the conductor. Yikes. That IS small.
There was more. The radio station will probably archive the interview. Until then, here's a newspaper article about the production.
Let's see... he told the plot of the opera - his character, Tarquinius, isn't really a bad guy. Some other dude says something about all women being whores (he was careful to point out that it was a quote when he said it) and Tarq is like, NO, she's not, she's GOOD and that he can prove she's chaste by seeing if she resists. If she does, she is. Um... right. Hence the word "rape" in the title.
The interviewer asked him what it was like playing a role like this, where his character does something so bad. I don't remember his reply but he did say something about being able to turn it off when you leave so you don't take the bad feelings with you, something like that. And also that he plays other characters who are better than he is, and that sort of balances it all out. They played a clip from Billy Budd as an example.
After the clip the interviewer said she always enjoys watching the guest listen to him or herself, and how does he like it? There was some joking in there (working, sorry, I missed it but heard the laughing) and he said that he tries not to pick himself apart (something about his wife disagreeing??) and no one likes hearing a recording of themselves and that he tries to hear the musicality of it. Something like that.
They talked about the baritone voice type, and that Elvis and Bing Crosby were baritones, and the types of parts baritones have in different types of operas.
He talked about how he got started singing and got all nostalgic about this car, a 1970 Plymouth Satellite, (I wrote that down) and talked about stuff I've read/heard in other interviews.
Regarding having a pretty voice - his first voice teacher told him that having a pretty voice is a gift - compared it to having pretty eyes. Out of your control.
Oh THEN she played a bit of Papageno and asked us to excuse the quality but it's a homemade recording. Ha! Damn I know that approximately 2 readers will understand my reaction to that. Too bad.
Um.. he talked about using the stomach muscles that contract when you cough, not the ... what did he call it... vanity muscles? Again... I was paying about 75% attention.
And I will leave you with this... he said it in the middle but I can't help but revise the order for effect... (I was at work and that's my job!!!) He says he tells his students to follow their bliss - to be honest and sing where and what they're comfortable with.
Oh and one more thing: The theater where RoL is taking place is so small, he said he can reach out from the stage and almost touch the conductor. Yikes. That IS small.
There was more. The radio station will probably archive the interview. Until then, here's a newspaper article about the production.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Radio Alert!
Attention Gunnfans:
Newsflash from The Opera Company of Philadelphia!!
WHYY in Philadelphia is interviewing the cast of Rape of Lucretia tomorrow, Thursday, from 11-12. They'll be taking questions so warm up your dialing fingers. Then they hop over to WRTI on Saturday at 11am for another interview. Busy busy busy! Both stations are set up for online listening, and will most likely have archived and/or podcasts of the interviews available if you miss them.
With all that's going on this weekend I keep forgetting that I'll be seeing RoL next week. Can't wait to hang out with Banawoman!! We're busy making plans - and those plans DON'T include waiting at the stage door - we already have other (tentative) plans for after the performance. Sorry to the readers who were hoping for another foot-in-mouth moment - I'm following the "avoidance of embarrassment" school of thought this time around. I hope that school isn't too boring...
Newsflash from The Opera Company of Philadelphia!!
WHYY in Philadelphia is interviewing the cast of Rape of Lucretia tomorrow, Thursday, from 11-12. They'll be taking questions so warm up your dialing fingers. Then they hop over to WRTI on Saturday at 11am for another interview. Busy busy busy! Both stations are set up for online listening, and will most likely have archived and/or podcasts of the interviews available if you miss them.
With all that's going on this weekend I keep forgetting that I'll be seeing RoL next week. Can't wait to hang out with Banawoman!! We're busy making plans - and those plans DON'T include waiting at the stage door - we already have other (tentative) plans for after the performance. Sorry to the readers who were hoping for another foot-in-mouth moment - I'm following the "avoidance of embarrassment" school of thought this time around. I hope that school isn't too boring...
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Ok, Ok, Here You Go
People have been after me, asking, Where's our Gunnnews? Now, c'mon people, I'm not his paid employee. Talk to the press agent if you want official press. But to shut you all up, I mean, to appease you, here's some news.
A Houston radio station, KUHF, is broadcasting an interview with the folks involved in Brief Encounter, today at Noon and again at 10. I assume that's... whatever time zone Houston is. Central? Mountain, maybe? Figure out your local time when you go to listen. And to whet your appetite, look here for a blog entry about it with a photo. The same content and photo are on the radio station's page. Thanks to Maria for the link.
Right now I'm listening to a podcast of an interview with people from Opera America. Interesting stuff. I wonder if they have any job openings?
***
Edited to add: I did get a chance to listen to the noon broadcast. Interesting stuff. What stood out the most for me was that the entire story is told from the main female character's perspective, so Mr Gunn has to portray his character in that context. The audience gets glimpses of the character's true nature - maybe - it can be interpreted either way - because basically, it's her version of what happened. So his charming aspects are exaggerated the way that happens when you're in that kind of situation, and the possibly seedy stuff doesn't really come through... or does it...
It should be on podcast tomorrow. It's the first part of the segment and lasted about 10 or 15 minutes. There's no musical teaser for it.
A Houston radio station, KUHF, is broadcasting an interview with the folks involved in Brief Encounter, today at Noon and again at 10. I assume that's... whatever time zone Houston is. Central? Mountain, maybe? Figure out your local time when you go to listen. And to whet your appetite, look here for a blog entry about it with a photo. The same content and photo are on the radio station's page. Thanks to Maria for the link.
Right now I'm listening to a podcast of an interview with people from Opera America. Interesting stuff. I wonder if they have any job openings?
***
Edited to add: I did get a chance to listen to the noon broadcast. Interesting stuff. What stood out the most for me was that the entire story is told from the main female character's perspective, so Mr Gunn has to portray his character in that context. The audience gets glimpses of the character's true nature - maybe - it can be interpreted either way - because basically, it's her version of what happened. So his charming aspects are exaggerated the way that happens when you're in that kind of situation, and the possibly seedy stuff doesn't really come through... or does it...
It should be on podcast tomorrow. It's the first part of the segment and lasted about 10 or 15 minutes. There's no musical teaser for it.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Radio Magic
Why is it that when we hear something on the radio that not only have we heard countless times before, but we own several recordings of it, we still get excited? I think it's because it's fun to know that someone else out there likes the same music and has chosen to play it for everyone to hear.
Yesterday while driving from Here to There I was listening to a classical music station's beg oops I mean, pledge drive. The reward for donating x dollars was a box set of recordings of all Mozart's music. Like, a huge box. So they did their begging and then played something from the box - think of all the great music they had to choose from - and they chose the overture from Die Zauberflote! I've heard it countless times, I've seen the opera live in the theater and on television and video, yet I got so excited to hear it on the radio. Someone else was choosing to listen and play it for me! Ok not just for me, but who cares? That particular drive was just the right length to hear the entire thing without having to hear them beg again at the end. (actually I turned the radio off... no donation ... is that bad? Probably. Oh well.) I was so excited to hear it, I was singing along and conducting in the car. It was like a special treat. I was having one of those days, and hearing the MF Overture really perked me up and put me in a good mood. Wow now I feel like I should give them money. Well I'm sure the feeling will pass, and more quickly than it should. (thanks Jane Austen for that line.)
Yesterday while driving from Here to There I was listening to a classical music station's beg oops I mean, pledge drive. The reward for donating x dollars was a box set of recordings of all Mozart's music. Like, a huge box. So they did their begging and then played something from the box - think of all the great music they had to choose from - and they chose the overture from Die Zauberflote! I've heard it countless times, I've seen the opera live in the theater and on television and video, yet I got so excited to hear it on the radio. Someone else was choosing to listen and play it for me! Ok not just for me, but who cares? That particular drive was just the right length to hear the entire thing without having to hear them beg again at the end. (actually I turned the radio off... no donation ... is that bad? Probably. Oh well.) I was so excited to hear it, I was singing along and conducting in the car. It was like a special treat. I was having one of those days, and hearing the MF Overture really perked me up and put me in a good mood. Wow now I feel like I should give them money. Well I'm sure the feeling will pass, and more quickly than it should. (thanks Jane Austen for that line.)
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