Yale Opera in Italy

In and around Italy

14 young singers from the renowned opera program at the Yale University School of Music will be traveling to Milan, Italy for performances with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi.  Between June 18 and July 9, they will be performing concert programs of Shostakovitch's MOSKVA, CHEREMUSHKI, Offenbach's ORPHEE AUX ENFERS, Lehar's DIE LUSTIGE WITWE and Puccini's LA RONDINE.

Follow these gifted young artists and a group of faculty and staff members as they experience performing and living in the country that is the birthplace of their art form.

Route taken and entries written by Yale Opera

  1. 1

    The final days of preparation

    New Haven, United States | Jun 10 '07 | Reviews: 0
    This is Grant Meachum, manager of the Yale Opera program, writing from my office at Hendrie Hall in New Haven.The reality of leaving on an internation... Continue reading »

  2. 2

    Sitz down, you're rockinz' the boatz

    New Haven, United States | Jun 11 '07 | Reviews: 0
    Once our Yale Opera group leaves New Haven and is safely over the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday you will all start to see more and more input from the actu... Continue reading »

  3. 3

    Figaro qua, Figaro la, Figaro su, Figaro giu

    New Haven, United States | Jun 12 '07 | Reviews: 0
    It's Grant Meachum again, writing from rainy New Haven.In the opera "The Barber of Seville" (which I will alternately refer to as "Il barbiere di Sivi... Continue reading »

  4. 4

    Milan casting

    New Haven, United States | Jun 12 '07 | Reviews: 0
    Our time in Italy will be three manic weeks of rehearsals and performances, with a bit of time off for good behavior.  I've listed the casting fo... Continue reading »

  5. 5

    For the Underworld, it's awfully chilly

    New Haven, United States | Jun 13 '07 | Reviews: 0
    Outdoor performances turn just about everyone involved into an amateur weatherman.  It's an overcast day in New Haven, and to add to that, it's d... Continue reading »

  6. 6

    Andiamo

    New Haven, United States | Jun 14 '07 | Reviews: 0
    It's been a day of battoning down the hatches in anticipation of our leaving (on a jet plane) Sunday evening.  At 2:00pm today, the cast of MOSKV... Continue reading »

  7. 7

    Shostakovich + Jetlag

    Milan, Italy | Jun 17 '07 | Reviews: 0
    Group #1 is in Milan, present and accounted for.  After a nap at the hotel and an assist from Sweet Lady Espresso we made our way to the Auditori... Continue reading »

  8. 8

    Rehearsal photos galore

    Milan, Italy | Jun 18 '07 | Reviews: 0
    Another day of Russian rehearsals yesterday, but the piece is really starting to take shape.  Today will feature a walk-through at 2:00pm and a r... Continue reading »

  9. 9

    My Dinner with Diego

    Milan, Italy | Jun 19 '07 | Reviews: 0
    Today I talked with baritone Diego Matamoros about how he plans to prepare for our performance of MOSKVA, CHEREMUSHKI tomorrow night. Unlike many sing... Continue reading »

  10. 10

    From Moskva, With Love

    Milan, Italy | Jun 20 '07 | Reviews: 0
    For the first time since we arrived, the daytime hours were entirely free of rehearsals.  After a 4 hour dress rehearsal on Wednesday evening, th... Continue reading »

  11. 11

    Most of what happens in Bellagio stays in Bellagio

    Milan, Italy | Jun 22 '07 | Reviews: 0
    On Saturday, Eric and Diego organized a group trip to Bellagio, a picturesque town at the tip of Lake Como. We traveled by train to Varenna and then b... Continue reading »

  12. 12

    Welcome to the Underworld, We've Got Fun and Games

    Milan, Italy | Jun 24 '07 | Reviews: 0
    After a couple of days off it was back to business for Yale Opera. We were especially happy to welcome new cast members Elona Ceno, Dan Bircher and Ed... Continue reading »

  13. 13

    Va Team Yale!

    Milan, Italy | Jun 28 '07 | Reviews: 0
    The ORPHEE performance pleasantly turned into a bit of a family affair. At the dress rehearsal we were joined once again by Dean Masse as well as Elen... Continue reading »

  14. 14

    A Witwe For One Year

    Milan, Italy | Jul 01 '07 | Reviews: 0
    As the calendars turn over to July, more than a few of us are rubbing our eyes in disbelief that we’re entering our third week in residence with the O... Continue reading »

Avid Fan avatar Avid Fan on Jun. 7, 2007 @ 05:29AM said
Thank you for creating this "Yale Opera in Italy" blog. I am anxiously awaiting an update. How was the Russian Opera?
Guglielmo avatar Guglielmo on Jun. 7, 2007 @ 05:29AM said
Fantastica performance della Lustige Witwe ieri sera! Bravi, bravissimi tutti! Un enorme bacio ad Adelaide che mi ha commosso nella sua aria del II atto! Naturalmente erano fantastiche anche le altre due opere precedenti. Vi sentirò di nuovo nella Rondine di Puccini. Ancora un grandissimo abbraccio a tutti e, please, come back next year! Ciao a tutti!
Avid Fan in Montana avatar Avid Fan in Montana on Jun. 7, 2007 @ 05:29AM said
Thank you for all of the updates Grant and Grant's wife. I check your site daily. It is awesome to be able to see how things are going. The pictures are so much fun. Wish I was there to see all of the shows. Please give my love to Edward! ...and A BIG HELLO from everyone in Montana. Love, Pamela (Edward's Mom)

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