Check it out here!

Bonnie here in Sunny San Diego blogging to make a great announcement.

For the 2011/2012 season RWO is initiating a series of small “Salon” Performances throughout the year. They will feature the RWO singers performing solo and small chamber works, as well as inviting some guest performers to join in! We’re really excited about this addition. Rhymes With Opera was founded in the belief that developing a community with a fun and welcoming attitude towards new music is vital to the future of our craft. The Salons are the next step in creating a more consistent connection to our audiences and fellow performers.

With that in mind- the first Salon will also be a Potluck Party! So bring your favorite fall dish and get ready for a night of New Music! More details to come but for now here’s the stats:

Rhymes With Opera Salon and Potluck

Sunday October 23rd

520 Park Avenue, 7:30 p.m.

New York, NY

Happy Fall!

-Bonnie

We are also going to be looking at the proposals for next year’s season! I’m excited to see how everyone feels, and nervous to see if we all feel very differently. But I guess feelings are something musicians deal a lot with, so I’ll try to pick up some bouncy balls for the kids and some whiskey for the adults and maybe we’ll find a new fun way to work through those “tough decisions.” George- am I still allowed to blog?  (waiting for the transmission to fail of course)

I’ve been singing with RWO for four seasons now and I think I can safely say that this was the smooooothest, most full bodied, most organized, best attended, and light hearted tour yet. George conducted with a paternal care, ease, detail, and comfort that certainly left me feeling secure and confident. Meanwhile Ruby’s meticulous organization proved a smashing success for the shows. And my hat is certainly off to the composer/captain Smooke who drove from baltimore to boston and back for two shows within 36 hours, picking up/dropping off mouthy singers along the way.

The West End String Quartet delivered pro sounds and attitudes night after night. They brewed some killer cold brew coffee, baked some badass homemade pizzas, and provided the sturdy and classy backbone this operation needs! High fives, ladies and gent. A very heartfelt woot.

As for the singing- Robert “voice” Maril, Elisabeth “stage slap” Halliday, and I “first person semi-omniscient” Lander had a great time rolling around the floor, cursing, screaming, hugging, belting, soaring, and marching pensively in our sets. Yeah huh!- Tim Smith seemed to like it!: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/classicalmusic/2011/06/rhymes_with_opera_premieres_da.html

Then hey, second weekend rolls and round and whoa! – not only does NYC commence some much needed “dragging the rest of the country into the 21st century” with some rocking new legislation- but also in comes this pinch hitter baritone Jeff Gavett for the second leg. He showed some seriously professional chops that definitely kept this soprano on her toes while diving onto the floor. HIGH FIVES EVERYONE.

Alright, top five things about tour:

1) GREAT audiences and GREAT spaces
2) Performing new music with amazing friends, colleagues, and musicians who share the same value system as a bunch of DIY hippie types who’s top priority is bringing a positive attitude with wit, character, and personal prowess to whatever scene they land in.
3) Cold press coffee, chimay triple, gay marriage, and a lobster roll all in one weekend! Cheers to that!
4) The word “cute” being analyzed into extinction. Fare thee well, “cute”, your time has officially passed.
5) New plans for next year! Get ready people, this has only been the beginning!

Anyone else got some top fivers? Don’t leave me hanging. It’s only my second blog.

Currently the mood is excited but exhausted as we all stayed up way past our responsible bedtimes to be ready for day 2 of touring in Baltimore. Last night’s show at the hospitable Cafe Orwell in Brooklyn was a total smash, we had a great turn out and everyone got all buzzed and nutty from the coffee and beer. GO NEW MUSIC!

Now we’re rockin baltimore in the middle of PRIDE! So I gotta go cause it’s time for a parade! Hope people come out tonight at the WINDUP SPACE at 6PM!! WOOT!

Rhymes With Opera has been busy at work, preparing for our upcoming tour with the WEST END STRING QUARTET. Pictured above: our recent rehearsal in NYC.

We’re really excited to be bringing the new show to New York, Baltimore, Hartford and Boston. We will be presenting the premiere of an RWO-commissioned work by Baltimore composer David Smooke, as well as new operas by George Lam and Ryan Jesperson.

David Smooke’s Criminal Element features three singers that also play a ukelele, re-tuned autoharp, and a melodica. The rehearsals have been going well, and it’s sounding great. Elspeth Davis, our stage director, has also worked with the company on staging the two other operas. The staging rehearsals have been fun, and we’re looking forward to performing the show.

Check out our season listing for more info, as well as venue details!

In the mean time, check out some of the press coverage we’ve got for the event. We’re a critic’s pick at Baltimore’s City Paper, and we’re a featured story in Bmore Media!