pianist, opera coach, conductor, writer
University of Texas, Austin
Tonight was the Butler Opera Center’s scenes program. I love scenes programs: the sheer variety of repertoire, the quick changing up of style, story, and singers. I love watching our student conductors lead with confident and expressive hands. I love hearing the surprises: a new steadiness of tempo, a beautiful … Continue Reading →
The singers and coaches of the Butler Opera Center, together with the collaborative pianists from Anne Epperson’s studio, performed a recital of Richard Strauss’ Lieder at UT tonight. It was an enormous, challenging program, from the earliest songs to the Vier Letzte Lieder, from beloved favorites to rarely performed treasures. It … Continue Reading →
I’m reeling (in a good way) from a jaw-dropping, soul-embiggening trio of performances here in my adopted home state. In a span of five days, I heard music at the Houston Grand Opera, at a chapel on the Trinity University campus in San Antonio, and in UT Austin’s own Bates … Continue Reading →
I’m back in our nation’s capitol for a week to do one of my favorite things, work with the young artists of Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz program. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with them, and to making some new acquaintances as well. An additional bonus: I’ll get to attend the … Continue Reading →
I’m settling in for a normal few weeks of teaching at UT: Italian classes, La bohème preparation, individual lessons. And also reviewing the score of Wagner’s Das Rheingold for my next project, the first installment of the Ring Cycle at the Houston Grand Opera. The company is tackling this seminal work for the … Continue Reading →