Opera Volunteers International

OVI Board members meet in Tampa to warm up

What is satisfying, informative and entertaining (and warming)?

The answer: a February OVI Board meeting in sunny Tampa, Florida.

From landing at one of the country’s more pleasant airports on the outskirts of Tampa, to closing good-byes with plans to conduct business again during the fall color season in Seattle, Washington, the weekend was a typical, first-rate OVI Board meeting event.

In the picture is president Fern Grauer, talking with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, while Sherrill Milnes looks on. Continue Reading »

I was encouraged by a headline in the February 11, 2008 Houston Chronicle: “Companies increasingly support “do-gooders” with time, money and organizing efforts as they aim to retain “Gen Y” workers with different priorities”. Although I am definitely NOT a Generation Y person, I am proud that ExxonMobil, the company from which I retired, has always valued and supported employee and retiree volunteer activity as well as financial contributions to cultural and educational organizations.
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It’s that time again. Time for OVI Support Groups to think about the value of their outstanding volunteers and how to recognize and acknowledge them. Is there someone in your organization who has contributed outstanding service to your opera company and/or your support group? Why not nominate him or her for one of our awards? Is your group celebrating a milestone event or a special accomplishment? Why not nominate it for an honor? Opera Volunteers International’s Partners in Excellence Award pays tribute to these exceptional people and occasions.
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Opera Volunteers International has a few sets of opera tickets available for a modest contribution.

Vancouver Opera: 2 tickets to Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) and I Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) on November 13 or 15, 2007. Valued at $198USD, these wonderful seats can be had for your donation of $120USD.

Pittsburgh Opera: 2 tickets for Elixir of Love (Donizetti) on November 13, 2007. Valued at $170, enjoy this opportunity for a $100 donation.

Salt Lake City: 2 tickets for The Utah Symphony’s performance of “Ancient Voices of Children“ (Crumb) March 13, 2008. Valued at $80, consider a contribution of $40.

Salt Lake City: 2 tickets for Utah Opera’s La Cenerentola (Rossini) on March 24, 2008. Valued at $80, they can be enjoyed for a donation of $40.

Enjoy great opera and support OVI!
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Take me out to the opera

While growing up on Long Island, I enjoyed listening to NY Yankees games on the radio. Before each game, some guy would sing the national anthem. Over a decade later, after I had become a full-fledged opera fanatic, I found out that the “guy” was Metropolitan Opera star, Robert Merrill, himself a diehard Yankee fan.
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Luciano Pavarotti

1935-2007

According to Jonathan Leaf in THE AMERICAN - A Magazine of Ideas, the United States now has more opera companies than Germany or Italy, and as many Americans attend opera performances as they do NFL games. This huge surge in popularity for the art form which we in Opera Volunteers International (OVI) also love makes us hopeful for the future of opera - more companies, more performances, with more people attending.

Each of us has a favorite story about how we first became interested in opera. As our enthusiasm grows for opera, we often bring newcomers with us to hear their very first opera, and one day perhaps, to share our passion. As our passion grows, we want to become even closer to all aspects of supporting our local opera companies, from fund raising, to educational outreach in schools and our communities, to hosting visiting artists.
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Ravinia Festival Masterclass

Living in the area, I made time to get over to one of the Ravinia Festival’s Steans Institute for Young Artists open (and free) master classes this week. What a treat! James Conlon graciously gave the audience history and background on the music and the composer, then listened intently and critiqued three young singers. Two sopranos and a mezzo, in this summer’s program performed pieces by Zemlinsky with varying skills.
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David Yuen has the patience of a saint talking me through signing into this blog… but here I am!
I just want everyone to know how fabulous Central City and Denver, and Central City Opera, and Central City Opera House Guild and ESPECIALLY our recent conference were… I am so sorry it didn’t work out for more people to attend. Even when you send a “rep” to take notes and bring home good ideas it’s not the same as being there, meeting the people and feeling the energy. That’s why we decided to have several smaller less expensive “focus” meetings during the lag time until the next (hopefully long awaited) BIG OVI conference. We want everyone to have a chance to participate “up-live and personal.” We all hope to see you there and share!

In the picture, I’m sharing a laugh with Walter Briggs, Northeast Regional Coordinator, at the OVI board meeting on July 19.

Sandi Bruns

Our long week-end in Denver and Central City was really special. It is tough to decide what was most enjoyable: the company, the conversation, the educational opportunities, the events, the opera?!

The workshops and sessions delivered as usual; I’m sure I’m not the only one who returned with a lot of new ideas and information. The private tours and gorgeous dinner in the new Libeskind wing of the Denver Art Museum was an outstanding evening with a taste of another art form. But our day in Central City was definitely the highlight of the conference.
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