Living the Viva Vocal
Looking forward: bigger, brighter, and a whole lot less COVID
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February 2021
Unlike some other companies, VIva, being a newer company, doesn’t have a lot of video footage to stream online. However, we have spent some of our COVID-time watching, researching, and learning from other organizations, performers, and industry experts, and we have seen a number of productions, many of which are very worth watching. One opera company that we’ve been following these last few months is Pacific Opera Project, affectionately known as POP. They are based in California, and are considered a small opera company. They have a way of breathing new life into classic works by connecting to pop culture. (Is that another reason for the POP in their name? I wonder….) Many opera companies have released recordings from prior seasons, and while most of them all have fabulous singing and beautiful duets, and music that most of us would agree is some of the best ever written, POP’s performances stand above the rest, from their youtube countdowns to “curtain”, fabulous short and witty interviews with the cast and crew of their productions, operas with current/ pop culture infused libretti translations in English, and a cast that manages to be fresh, effervescent, and sing the socks off every role that is in these productions. Many opera companies seem to fear allowing their productions to be updated for today, and they also seem to take themselves too seriously, but not POP. Check out a few of their productions! Check out one of my favorites: Magic Super Flute (It's Die Zauberflote meets Classic Nintendo Games, with an original English libretto by Josh Shaw) |
We miss our audience!
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January 2021
Happy New Year! Though the world has experienced a year like few others, we are looking ahead to a fresh start with a new year, and thinking about what our next season is going to look like! While our 2020-2021 season was put on hold, we are looking at some great ideas for the near future, for both local community venues as well as our school outreach, COVID rules permitting. We would love to hear your ideas for what you would like to see on stage! As a small performing arts company, we love putting on new works, chamber operas, and operas that are often overlooked by major opera houses as being “too small” to put on. We also love telling stories- not just pretty music, but truly letting the story shine through. And we LOVE getting YOUR input. If you have a favorite that you’d like to see on the stage, or maybe a recording of an opera that you’ve never seen live, let us know! We are working to plan 3-5 years ahead, and want to have opera that not only interests us, but our communities and patrons as well. |
So, you might have heard about it. It's this thing, it's called COVID.
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May 29, 2020
Our 2020-21 season is going to look a whole lot different than any of us could have possibly imagined! After the initial shock of knowing that safety precautions might need to be in effect for months (if not years!), we have put our heads together and have started working out a season that promises to be fascinating, musical, and thought-provoking. While we may not be able to see you and share music with you in the same physical space, we can still create, share and grow through music in the digital sphere and still enjoy music together! Our upcoming season will bring programming that is often overlooked due to the level of intimacy and size of the cast, which incidentally, can make it a great resource to use when wanting small, intimate performances that we can stream right into your homes! Our Music In Our Schools Program is still planning a 2020-21 tour as well, and are keeping our fingers on the pulse of how schools will look as campuses re-open in the fall. We at Viva are keeping abreast of the research about singing and how to make sure that everyone, including audiences and performers are safe. If you want to be a supporter of our 2020-21 tour, please visit our DONATIONS page. Thank you! |
To sleep, perchance to dream
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June 13, 2019
Viva is alive and well, and I thought I would take a moment and make a post. We don't have a lot to report right now, except that it looks like we won't be putting any productions on this year. Instead, we are planning for a brighter, more dazzling future, and are focusing right now on our OPERAtions. (Sorry! Couldn't resist the pun) We have some big things in the works, but, after talking it over with members of our board, it was decided that this year would be best spent developing some solid infrastructure, developing our strategic resources, and bringing some new talent onto our board. Speaking of which, if you are interested in being on our board or volunteering, send us an email and we would love to talk with you. |
The Year in Retrospect
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January 3, 2019
2018 has come and gone, and, as always, we would like to thank all those who made it out to Viva performances for the year. Our resolution for the future: to put on even more exciting productions and to get to meet more and more Viva lovers. We hope to be able to help in convincing people that opera is not scary, boring, or unnecessarily overly dramatic. This past year we had some exciting firsts. While we didn't get to perform David Conté's "The Gift of the Magi" at Randolph's Chandler Center for the Arts, as planned, we performed in the historic Barre Universalist Church, which allowed us to spread the magic and reach new audience members, as well as our unofficial "home base"of the delightful Plainfield Opera House In this, our second year of doing full-scale works, we took a chance and hired a 9 member chamber orchestra and the results were, according to audience members, nothing short of magical. The response was so encouraging that we are hoping to perform "The Gift of the Magi again, perhaps next year." And what is ahead for this year? "Well, maybe a bit of a break," laughs our Artistic Director/ Diva in Residence, Jessica Della Pepa- Clayton. "This was an amazing experience, but we want to make sure that we are in an even better place for our next big production." While this past year was, indeed, a milestone year, Viva might be spending some time this year planning and preparing for future endeavors, particularly as the plan is to reach more wide-spread populations, including working more with schools. So, to all our patrons; happy new year, and keep singing. |
VMEA Conference
Thank you to those who attended the benefit concert
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October 5, 2017
We are looking forward to participating in the 2017 VMEA conference this at Castleton State College this year. We have a lot of good information to share with Vermont music teachers, so if you are at the conference, please stop by and say hello! August 21, 2017
Thank you to those who attended the Rich's Hollow Benefit Concert. We had a decent turnout with old and young aficionados, alike. Guests were treated to favorite selections of the cast and crew of the upcoming Vermont production of Viva La Musica's "Hansel and Gretel." Not only did everyone get to enjoy an evening of musical entertainment, but they got to meet the "Hansel and Gretel" cast and support Viva's efforts with donations, positive commentary, and great company. If you missed the event, don't fret. You can still see performances of "Hansel and Gretel" (and also check out "The Telephone" if you missed its previous performances). You can also support Viva La Musica's outreach efforts by making an donation. Your donation makes a world of difference in helping us advocate for the Vermont music and the cultural heritage that Vermont students are exposed to. Thank you, in advance, for your support. |
Hansel & Gretel prepared to take the house by storm |
August 12, 2017
Rehearsals have begun for the upcoming production of Humperdinck's "Hansel & Gretel," and the cast is proving to be stellar! Two of the performers, our Hansel and Gretel, actually, have both performed the roles before,and will not be holding anything back for these performances! Those who want a taste of what is to come should check out the Rich's Hollow Benefit Concert that will be held on August 19th at 4pm. It promises to be a pleasant evening, filled with the likes of none other than Mozart and Puccini, and those in attendance will be serenaded by some of the incredibly talented "Hansel & Gretel" cast. Oh, and as if that weren't enough, there will be desserts and socializing after! Tickets are $20, seating is limited, so you want to RSVP now! Call 802-454-7306 to reserve your ticket NOW! |
"Director Jessica Della Pepa- Clayton created an intimate scene in which the two characters interact comfortably and naturally... This production of “The Telephone” is a delightful mix of beautiful singing and very human comedy. " -Jim Lowe, Times Argus
Viva's First Collaborative Concert Considered Successful
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June 30, 2017
On June 24 Viva La Musica VT, in collaboration with the Old Meeting House Arts Committee held a concert entitled "Call & Response." The evening, emceed by Roya Millard, was quite successful, and everyone had wonderful things to say about the program. Members of the Old Meeting House Choir and Essex Players participated in an evening exploring different aspects of communication and human relationship through different live performance mediums. The performance reviewer, Jim Lowe, attended the dress rehearsal and said: "This production of “The Telephone” is a delightful mix of beautiful singing and very human comedy." (You can read the review here.) |