From Moskva, With Love

The Duomo
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For the first time since we arrived, the daytime hours were entirely free of rehearsals.  After a 4 hour dress rehearsal on Wednesday evening, the Yale Opera crew was ready for some un-structured free time.  My wife and I visited two of Milan's beloved architectural marvels- the Duomo (home of countless historical occurrences) and the Galleria (home of countless overpriced handbags).  If you've ever wondered what these sights look like through the eyes of an amateur photographer with an inexpensive digital camera, then you'll really enjoy today's photo section.

The Galleria
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At 8:30pm, Maestro Oleg Caetani gave the downbeat for MOSKVA, CHEREMUSHKI to a sold-out auditorium.  The plot of MOSKVA follows four couples in mid-20th-century Moscow, all of whom are in search of enduring love and the perfect apartment in the Cheremushki neighborhood. I think we can call the evening a success, complete with five curtain calls.

The largest Brava of the evening should go to Emily Olin, Yale Opera's faculty Russian Diction Coach

Yale Opera singers thank Emily Olin backstage following the performance
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But the largest Brava of the evening should go to Emily Olin, Yale Opera's faculty Russian Diction Coach.  Emily began preparing this piece with the students in May amidst final exams, recitals, commencement, and the preparation of three other operas.  Commuting from her studio in New York, she would spend 16 hours each week in a coaching studio in the company of each cast member, a recording device, and page after page of Cyrillic text.  She patiently and firmly made sure that these singers mastered the nuances of each syllable and put it to music with the proper vocal technique.

The cast of MOSKVA, CHEREMUSHKI with Emily Olin
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The text of MOSKVA is also littered with cultural references and inside jokes and the students relied heavily upon Emily as concert stage director.  Who else could teach Diego Matamoros to dance a brilliant Mazurka? or the proper way to toast a wedding("Gorka!")? or explain how common it is for a young married couple to live separately while they wait for any apartment to become available?

And on top of all of this, Emily has brought so much warmth and heart to this Milan experience. At last night's post-performance dinner (hosted by Doris and Richard Cross), Emily toasted the students with an invitation to her home when they are hired to sing a Russian role for the first time. This was duly met with an ovation from our future Onegins, Tatianas, and Lenskis.

Ed Parks and Nick Masters at the opening night party at Viola
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The students have a hard-earned Friday and Saturday off before returning once more to their ORPHEE scores for rehearsals and performance next week with Yale Opera's good friend, Maestro Giuseppe Grazioli.