Christine Brewer Talks About Doing Musical Theater For The First Time

The soprano leads a chorus of nuns in The Sound of Music. (Photo: Todd Rosenberg/BWW)

"Christine Brewer usually goes several days between performances. As a dramatic soprano who specializes in the taxing roles of Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner, rest is important to conserve her voice and her strength. Not this time. This time, as the Abbess in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music at Lyric Opera of Chicago, she’s on a musical theater schedule of eight performances a week, including just one day off and two days with two shows, a matinee and an evening performance. 'This is an unusual schedule for me,' the Lebanon, Illinois-based singer said in a telephone interview last week. 'I’ve never done a musical theater piece before. I don’t sing that much (in the show), but when I do, it’s big guns. I'm eating a lot of chicken soup and taking my vitamins.'....Brewer worked on her dialogue in St. Louis with her voice teacher, Christine Armistead, and with director Mark Bruni, 'and then it was Jenn [Gambatese]. She'd say, 'Let’s just run the lines.' We’ve developed a really nice relationship on and off stage. Words are so important in singing, and this is really giving me a chance to bring that to my mind in a different way.' She's connected with others in the cast, too. 'When you’re in an intimate, very emotional preparation and performance, it’s like family,' Brewer said. 'I knew (soprano) Elizabeth (Futral, who plays Elsa), and some of the women from the chorus, and that was it. The first days were a little tense; the musical theater people had never worked in an opera house, with such a big space to rehearse in, such a big stage, and a full orchestra.' They had some trouble adjusting to the idea that singers regularly fill that giant auditorium with sound with no amplification....In her free time, Brewer is working on her music for Dialogues of the Carmelites at Opera Theatre of St. Louis. 'I'm feeling holy,' she joked, with back-to-back nun roles." [Source] A picture of Elizabeth Futral, as Elsa, is after the jump.

Christine Brewer to Sing at Classical Action Fundraiser in NYC

Michael Palm was a most generous and enthusiastic supporter of Classical Action. He was also, more than anyone, the person who spearheaded the concept of private benefit house concerts, hosting several of them himself at his penthouse apartment 37 floors above Lincoln Center. A supporter of a wide range of performing arts and HIV/AIDS organizations, Michael died in 1998, but his memory will thrive in the spirit and name of The Michael Palm Series, to benefit Classical Action.

Michael Palm Series 2011-2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Christine Brewer, soprano
Craig Rutenberg, Piano
New York City

The events begin with wine and hors d'oeuvres at 6:30pm. Concerts begin at 7:30pm.

Cincinnati Opera Gets Ryan Seacrest to Host Gala on June 19

TV and radio personality Ryan Seacrest is scheduled to serve as special guest host for Cincinnati Opera's Saturday, June 19 Gala Concert at Music Hall. Seacrest, who is best-known as the host of the highly-rated American Idol, will appear in person at Music Hall for the celebratory event. 'Ryan Seacrest is one of the finest and best loved television hosts,' said Cincinnati Opera's Artistic Director Evans Mirageas. 'His work on American Idol is inspiring, and his personal passion for music is clear. We're thrilled that he'll be joining us to lead our anniversary celebration.' [Source ] Read about the prestigious guest list for the event after the jump.

Evans Mirageas, Ryan Seacrest, Angela Brown and Richard Leech

"Turandot" To Take Hollywood Bowl By Storm Under Dudamel

"Turandot, Puccini’s extravagant portrayal of a legendary China, comes to the Hollywood Bowl in a concert production. Opera star Christine Brewer stars as the icy princess who challenges her suitors to a game of riddles to win her heart. Conducting his second opera at the Bowl, Music Director Gustavo Dudamel leads this story of love, featuring some of the most beloved arias of all time, such as 'Nessun dorma.'" [Source]

Sunday, July 17, 2011, 7:30PM

ARTISTS:
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Christine Brewer, Turandot
Francesco Hong, tenor, Calaf
Hei-Kyung Hong, soprano, Liù
Alexander Vinogradov, bass, Timur
Timothy Mix, baritone, Ping
Daniel Montenegro, tenor, Pang
Beau Gibson, tenor, Pong
Greg Fedderly, tenor, Emperor Altoum
Craig Verm, baritone, Mandarin
Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon, music director
Los Angeles Children's Chorus, Anne Tomlinson, artistic director
(Photos of Christine Brewer by Christian Steiner)

Christine Brewer Pays Homage To Encores Of Past Sopranos

Dramatic soprano Christine Brewer is set to release a new CD that features the encores offered by great artists of the past including Kirsten Flagstad, Eileen Farrell, Helen Traubel and Eleanor Steber. Perhaps the single common link between today's artist and these four women of the past, is the composer Richard Wagner. The size and magnitude of the voice it takes to project this music is rarely thought to be the same instrument to deliver "When I have sung my songs" or "Now like a lantern," but this disc presents 22 examples of what these voices offered up at the end of long lieder or song recitals to please a public that was often waiting simply for the encore(s) of the evening. Release is set for March 2011. [Source]

Click here to sample each track of the CD. Detailed program notes and full track list are after the jump.

Turandot Joins Dolly Parton at the Hollywood Bowl

Turandot will be sung by Christine Brewer 
[not Dolly Parton] at the Hollywood Bowl 
(Photo: Christian Steiner)

Wunderkind-Maestro Gustavo Dudamel will present Puccini's Turandot with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as part of the "Sunday Sunset Performances" at the Hollywood Bowl on July 17, 2011. Also featured this season at the Hollywood Bowl will be Lang Lang, Chris Botti,Dolly Parton and July 4th Fireworks Spectacular with Daryl Hall and John Oates.

"Turandot, Puccini’s extravagant portrayal of a legendary princess in China, comes to the Hollywood Bowl. Christine Brewer stars as the icy princess who challenges suitors to a game of riddles to win her heart. This story of love – led by Music Director Gustavo Dudamel – features some of the most beloved arias of all time, including 'Nessun dorma.'" [Source]