“I have done several of these concerts already, and I can tell you that what I see in the audience is people more champing at the bit to sing than self-conscious about joining in. These were folks who were not just singing songs; they were reliving the memories that these tunes brought to them. The result is just pure joy.”
Read MoreIf you're on Facebook then you got a face full of this project when we launched the premiere of "27" at Opera Theater of St. Louis last summer. Here is a portion of the fruits of that labor- a live recording! This is incredibly exciting, and I must reiterate what a blessing and joy it was to be a part of this monumental work. I cannot wait to have another opportunity to bring Gertrude, Alice and company out onto the boards again, but until then, we can listen and remember!
** The CD is currently out of stock on Amazon so if you'd like to purchase a copy immediately, you can go to http://www.albanyrecords.com/.
During the summer of 2000, I joined a very ambitious adventure: the new Ring Cycle at Seattle Opera. The production was glorious- dubbed the "Green Ring," it featured photorealistic sets that called to mind the terrain of the Pacific Northwest. Developed by director Stephen Wadsworth and his amazing production team, including sets by Thomas Lynch and costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, I knew this would be a major undertaking, and that if I dedicated the time (3 months) to this process, I would come to truly know the Ring from every angle.
Needless to say, I have participated in every incarnation of this Ring Cycle since that summer of 2000. 2000 saw Rheingold and Die Walküre, 2001 added Siegfried and Götterdamerung. There followed three more full Ring summers- 2005, 2009 and 2013. There were several of us who had been there from the beginning last summer- Margaret Jane Wray, Greer Grimsley (our Donner in 2001, then becoming our world-class Wotan in '05, '09 and '13), Richard Paul Fink and Luretta Bybee. Over the years we have become a Ring family, and I know I am not the only one who considers this project to have been a life-changer.
When Seattle Opera General Director Speight Jenkins told me that he had the funding and permission to do a live recording of our 2013 Ring, I was beside myself with happiness. I knew that this cast was going to be stunning, and that it would be a really special way to commemorate Speight's fantastic tenure at Seattle Opera. Using microphone technology specifically designed for far-field recording, developed by Meyer Sound, this is truly what the audience heard when they attended this remarkable event. I know my colleagues are as proud of this recording as I am- it is a cherished memory of a wonderful endeavor