Good try, but needs more practice!
by TravelingOperaFan on 11/18/13Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric - BaltimoreI like the idea that students try to launch a massive effort to stage an opera on a big stage. Unfortunately for this production, I think they need more time and practice. Maybe they should do this at the end of the year. Here are some of the comments at the top of my head: many students were singing without support. A couple had flats every so often even from the main characters and they were often not in sync with the music. Some of the main characters had great tone and clearly had focus, unlike some of the other minor characters. This helped their voices carry over the orchestra easily. Ok, I know they are students and I should be more supportive. My thing is that real support is providing more realistic comments rather than the rabid applause and bravo/a/is from the parents and friends. I have to acknowledge however that the orchestra was pretty good. Almost sounds like a semi-professional orchestra. They were the ones who really deserved the applause for this production. I have no qualms about student productions. I just don't think that they should charge what they charge for such a production. Maybe they should stick to a school auditorium for now until they are ready rather than at a bigger house.