Tech Week

We enter tech week this weekend preparing for opening night February 18th, 2012.  Verdi's opera MacBeth makes its Alaskan debut, with themes of greed, unchecked ambition, emasculation, violence, grief, love of country and political alliances. Not much has changed since 1100 AD it seems. If you read MacBeth in high school or have never read it I recommend it.

Tech week is always a harried time. LOONG rehearsals. Costume fittings. Getting all the little things tweaked so we can make the show perfect for the opening. My costume is heavy yet beautiful. I have a train, although not long, backing up in "horror" as one of my songs says is going to interesting. We will see if Lady MacDuff falls upon her duff. I happen to be lucky my hair is quite versatile. While researching hairstyles of the time there are quite a few that will work quite nicely. Without the luxury of electricity the Ladies, Nobles, peasants and witches had to make do. I can't imagine living then. Looking back, the time seems so romantic and beautiful. Researching everyday life, its good to be a Noble. Bathing was a pastime, actually something women did in parties. I guess instead of a Tupperware party, noble women had bathing parties with mutton fat and potash scented soaps. That sounds like fun. Ok not really. Even peasants had public baths, called stews they could partake in. On a whole my research to understand Lady MacDuff lead me to understand the time a bit differently. I always thought it would smell terrible considering the plumbing and water situations, but maybe it didn't. In our day of antibacterial soaps, scented sprays, deodorants, colognes and everything under the sun cleaning products, I still find smelly smells all around. Odious aromas are abound!

Maestro Kelly, Maestro Robert giving instruction to some of our witches chorus as some of our men look on. This is our staging rehearsal venue, 9th floor of a high rise in midtown Anchorage. In the day time looks like a normal area, but in the night the lights of the city make for a beautiful back drop to rehearse opera.

Center is Ben Bongers playing MacDuff. Last night being mesmerized by his wonderful tenor voice, I totally went blank on my lines. We sing different lines to each other. He is telling me and the audience he has figured out the MacBeths, their evil plot and he must leave and flee his country. I am singing, this horror, this betrayal how could it happen under the law?

The witches, the Nobles, the peasants it is all going to be spectacular. I am so blessed to sing with a group of such talented singers, performers and artisans. I am looking forward to the coming week and opening night. More pictures to follow friends. Again, reread or read MacBeth for the first time. The themes are not so far removed from today. I am sure you can place todays figures into the characters are you read.
With love my friends,
Angela