About 50 opera fans gathered in the Grand Ballroom of Mount Vernon’s Engineers Club on Monday for the first of two evenings of Baltimore Concert Opera’s open auditions entitled So You Think You Can Sing Opera? And that’s exactly what happened as 22 artists sang a cumulative 30+ arias over the course of the evening. The highlight for me was at the end of the first half when soprano Rachel Joselson and mezzo-soprano Laura Zuiderveen offered their auditions.  Joselson sang the “Salce, salce/Ave Maria” scene from Act IV of Verdi’s Otello with beauty and finesse. Joselson is obviously a very seasoned artist as she created a stunning arc musically and dramatically from beginning to end. Zuiderveen, rich-voiced and theatrically commanding, sang Wagner’s “Weiche Wotan weiche!” from Das Rheingold and “Mon Coeur s’ouvre a ta voix” from Samson and Dalilah. Other standouts of the evening include Kevin Wetzel’’s rendition of Valentin’s “Avant de quitter ces lieux” from Faust and Theresa Bickham’s Silver Aria from The Ballad of Baby Doe.  BCO’s General Director Brendan Cooke offered his usual witty commentary, helping the audience and singers release any tension or preconceived notions they may have had about this format.

Due to a previous engagement, I had to leave before the last three singers took to the stage.

Auditions continue tonight starting at 7pm.  For $10 at the door, you can experience when American Idol meets opera in an up-close and personal setting.  The Engineers Club is business casual, so remember, no jeans or Simon Cowell black t-shirts.  For more information, visit www.BaltimoreConcertOpera.com.

Monica Boldt sings at BCO's open auditions Monday evening.

You’re probably thinking I’m writing today to inform you of the next great operatic performance in Baltimore. Or to ask you for your financial support of one of the fine opera companies our city is lucky to have. In fact, I am simply asking for 5 minutes of your time and, if you are willing, a vote for someone who has touched many people in Baltimore, bass Jason Hardy. Many of you know Jason from his many performances with the Baltimore Opera Company or when he sang Leporello in Baltimore Concert Opera’s inaugural performance of Don Giovanni in March 2009.

Everyone has a story, but there is none more amazing, devastating, encouraging, hopeful, touching and worth sharing, than the Jason’s story. Jason attended the Peabody Conservatory here in Baltimore. As our mutual friend, Brendan Cooke, would say, he spent much of his time pining away for his then girlfriend, Bevelyn…who also had quite a story.  Bevelyn had lost her husband to brain cancer, just a few days before their son was born.  She met Jason when her boy, Luke, was an infant.

Jason’s career was on the fast track, when they found out that Bevelyn had breast cancer.  They, of course, were shocked and terrified.  A few days later, they received even more news that they’d have to digest, Bevelyn was pregnant!  They found doctors that were willing to treat her cancer “around” the pregnancy…and soon, their miracle baby, Sabrina was born.  Bevelyn continued her treatment, and was ultimately given a clean bill of health.

Tragically, Bevelyn’s cancer returned. Treatment after treatment, set-back after set-back, Bevelyn remained an inspiration to everyone who knew her.  In 2007, Jason (and the rest of us) lost Bevelyn and leaving Jason a single parent.

Fast forward a couple of years…because this story has a happy ending, and you can help make it even happier.  Like his wife Bevelyn, Jason too was able to find love after devastating loss.  In 2007, he met a wonderful woman named Carrie. Many people search their whole life to find a soul-mate…Jason found two, and those that know him are eternally grateful that he has found Carrie.

Jason proposed to Carrie after opening night of a production of Le Nozze di Figaro…and she said YES.  Some charming video of the proposal can be found here:

So, what does this have to do with you? Jason and Carrie have been entered into Crate & Barrel’s Ultimate Wedding Contest to get their dream wedding. I can think of no more deserving people. Here’s what you can do:

1. Vote for Jason and Carrie by clicking here
2. Post their story to your Twitter account, Facebook page or Youtube channel
3. Sign-up to follow progress on Twitter @JasonHardyATL or #FigaroWedding

Thanks for your time and as always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts about this story.

In just a few hours, the BSO kicks off a weekend full of operatic performances at the Meyerhoff. Marin Alsop will conduct the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and they will be joined by artists from the Washington Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists Program and other soloists including my colleague at Baltimore Concert Opera, General Director Brendan Cooke. In a scene reminiscent of a viral YouTube video from Valencia, Spain last Fall, soloists from this weekend’s concerts surprised shoppers at Whole Foods in Harbor East yesterday by singing "Libiamo" from Verdi’s La Traviata and giving away tickets to this weekend’s performances. The Baltimore Sun and WJZ TV were there to report about it.

BSO Soloists: Libiamo on Aisle 5

BSO Extends Exclusive Offer for 50% Off Tickets!
As a loyal supporter of opera in Baltimore, the BSO would like to extend an EXCLUSIVE OFFER to attend one of these upcoming events at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall featuring operas by Barber and Gershwin and Vocalists of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program. To buy tickets, simply login to BSOmusic.org using Promo Code 12286 to purchase your discounted tickets (you must login before adding tickets to your cart to view discounted ticket price.). Don’t delay as this exclusive offer expires March 27, 2010 at 1 p.m. For more details about this 50% OFF offer for BaltimoreOpera.com subscribers, click here.

Here is the rundown for this weekends performances:
Hearts, Cards & Carnival
Thu, March 25 at 8 pm
Sun, March 28 at 3 pm
Cards, games, dancers and puppets. This program in our late-winter carnival features concert presentations of two 20th-century American operas. One, by Samuel Barber, is sung over a game of cards in ten minutes, followed by Gershwin’s Blue Monday—mixing jazz, voice and Americana. The evening ends with Stravinsky’s ballet Pulcinella, its neo-classical music mirroring a puppet tale of madcap comedy.

Casual Concert: Pulcinella
Sat, March 27 at 11 am
It’s story time at the symphony—and not just for kids. Prokofiev’s classic tale Peter and the Wolf takes center stage in this concert of musical storytelling. The morning also includes a suite from Stravinsky’s ballet Pulcinella, its angular music mirroring a puppet tale of mad cap comedy. Pastries and coffee on sale starting at 10 am.

Off the Cuff: Pulcinella
Sat, March 27 at 7 pm
Thanks to radical works such as his Rite of Spring, Igor Stravinsky catapulted himself to fame by writing music for the ballet. Marin Alsop rips open another stunning Stravinsky ballet, Pulcinella, a witty re-invention of 18th century courtly dance music with a 1920’s twist, and a charming plot told in song and dance. Why is this work credited with being among the first examples of neo-classicism? What the heck is neo-classicism? No worries, Marin Alsop and the BSO have all your answers.

I hope you make it to one of these performances (I will be there on Sunday). If you do, please chime in on the BaltimoreOpera.com Blog with your thoughts of the concert.

Announced today, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is offering subscribers of BaltimoreOpera.com a 50% discount on tickets to Hearts, Cards & Carnival on March 25th (8pm) and 28th (3pm) and Pulcinella on March 27th (11am and 7pm). Get your tickets today as this offer expires March 27th.

	BSOmusic.org | Event Calendar | JOIN BSO 2.0
	Exclusive Offer! 50% Off Tickets!* As a loyal supporter of opera in Baltimore, the BSO would like to extend an EXCLUSIVE OFFER to attend one of these upcoming events at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall featuring operas by Barber and Gershwin and Vocalists of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program. Login to BSOmusic.org using Promo Code 12286 to purchase your discounted tickets. You must login before adding tickets to your cart to view discounted ticket price. This offer is for online purchases only. Also, don’t forget to forward to a friend and share the experience of great music. Hearts, Cards & Carnival Thu, March 25 at 8 pm Sun, March 28 at 3 pm Cards, games, dancers and puppets. This program in our late-winter carnival features concert presentations of two 20th-century American operas. One, by Samuel Barber, is sung over a game of cards in ten minutes, followed by Gershwin’s Blue Monday—mixing jazz, voice and Americana. The evening ends with Stravinsky’s ballet Pulcinella, its neo-classical music mirroring a puppet tale of madcap comedy. Casual Concert: Pulcinella Sat, March 27 at 11 am It’s story time at the symphony—and not just for kids. Prokofiev’s classic tale Peter and the Wolf takes center stage in this concert of musical storytelling. The morning also includes a suite from Stravinsky’s ballet Pulcinella, its angular music mirroring a puppet tale of mad cap comedy. Pastries and coffee on sale starting at 10 am. Off the Cuff: Pulcinella Sat, March 27 at 7 pm Thanks to radical works such as his Rite of Spring, Igor Stravinsky catapulted himself to fame by writing music for the ballet. Marin Alsop rips open another stunning Stravinsky ballet, Pulcinella, a witty re-invention of 18th century courtly dance music with a 1920’s twist, and a charming plot told in song and dance. Why is this work credited with being among the first examples of neo-classicism? What the heck is neo-classicism? No worries, Marin Alsop and the BSO have all your answers. *All orders subject to availability. Offer expires March 27, 2010 at 1 p.m. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Premium seating excluded. All sales final. No exchanges on discounted tickets. Handling fees may be added for Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall events.

I am excited to report that Baltimore Opera Theatre, the newly-formed grand opera company, will open its second season with Madama Butterfly at The Hippodrome Theater. This is exciting news for those who have enjoyed performances of their Rigoletto and Barber of Seville. Details of the performance will soon appear on their Web site at www.BaltimoreOperaTheatre.net.

Last Thursday, over 450 packed the Walters Art Gallery to hear from an eclectic mix of Baltimoreans talk about everything from why they don’t want to have children to teen activism at Ignite Baltimore. BCO’s Brendan Cooke, who was among the dozen or so selected speakers, took the opportunity (everyone was given 5 minutes) to speak about why it’s important to save opera in Baltimore. Take 5 minutes to view his uplifting and cogent argument for saving opera, right here, right now.