Folks,
Thank you for your work on AMAHL. The performance at Southside was a lovely finale to this weekend's performances. Bravo to the chorus: you did your best singing, and even when your backs were turned to me in this new space, you were together. Shane, you resolved all "box" issues, sang beautifully, and established age in a very believable way even without a beard. Charles, you were consistently wonderful and your aria brought tears to many in the audience. Ryan, your elegance and resonant sound were perfect for the character. You and Charles had several wonderful moments of interaction: during Shane's aria in particular, I enjoyed watching all three of you being beautifully engaged. Hap, you were charming, and improved your comic timing as the shows went. Jess, you sounded more like yourself on Sunday and sang well in spite of your illness. You were also fully engaged dramatically throughout. Micah, you were rock solid every time and helped make for a very believable fight scene (Jake, you did too). Joe and Ally, you brought something truly special to the dance and were absolutely consistent. All of you grew as a cast and as a team, and for that I thank you. Taking responsibility for your part of the process--whether moving sets and props or paying attention to where the focus needed to be on stage--is part of becoming a real professional.
We'll watch the video on December 1st during opera time. Enjoy your time off until then, and do attend Janet Hopkins's master class the Monday after Thanksgiving during SNATS time. She will also be available for lessons Monday and Tuesday morning for $50/hour. Sign up times will be posted when her arrival time is confirmed.
Congratulations, and love y'all madly.
2 comments:
Compliments coming in for the show: "Sat night was just wonderful. Very impressed with the quality of voices in the production. The mom was terrific – cold or not. And the kings were very good." "It was great!" Dr. Gainey wrote: "Congrats to my friend Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk and the UAB Opera (including the fabulous Brian Kittredge!) on a wonderful performance of Amahl tonight!"
Dr. Chuck Wood from Montevallo wrote: "I didn't have a chance to congratulate you on such a fine performance of Amahl. It was so well done, and your singers are making you proud! And, the Amahl was a terrific young singer/actor! You did great work!" Dr. Roderick George also of Montevallo wrote: "Congratulations on your fine work with the UAB students... I enjoyed it!" All high praise, folks.
Another comment, this one from the great Ginger Goodall: "I thoroughly enjoyed your AMAHL and love the thought of it becoming a tradition for UAB’s Music Department. I have done hundreds of performances of the show all over the southeast and I never tire of it. Your production is one of the few I’ve actually been able to watch, since I was usually the Mother.
Set was perfect for touring. Your kings were “kingly”, the Mother was sensitively sung, Amahl was sweet-voiced and engaging (I rarely had the opportunity to sing with a child), and your shepherds were enthusiastic and sure. The influence of your Westminster training was clear in your young singer/actors. I knew the show would be well thought out, disciplined and musically tight and indeed, it was." This is very high praise from a wonderful local performer whose work is highly respected. Bravo, folks!
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