Ariel's Tempest

Since the beginning of the semester, at least 12 of my hours each week have belonged to the opera department. I have been serving as a co-music director for a new opera that is...as we speak...still being revised. Peabody has an opera outreach program which takes a shortened, simplified opera into schools to perform for elementary students, etc. In the past, they've done "Hansel and Gretel" or "The Magic Flute"...something kid-friendly. The show opens in the fall and then is performed at different times and places throughout the year.
But this year they're doing something a bit different. Roger Brunyante, the head of the opera dept. has written the libretto for a version of Shakespeare's The Tempest. It is made up of direct quotes from the original - with the insertion of an actual Shakespeare character and a "Stage Manager" who provide some slapstick to keep the show from getting too serious! The music has been written by a Peabody DMA candidate, Douglas Buchanan.
It has been a challenge - the music is hard, to say the least. And being a music director is not easy - especially as a student. Some of the cast members are great and are well-prepared. And some are way behind.
And we open in about two weeks.
No big deal.
On Monday, we had one complete run-through...parts of which were ok, and parts of which were a complete disaster. Last night, the other cast (the show is double-cast) had their go at it. They are the weaker cast, so it was even more of a disaster. And then Roger, the director, and the composer and Nadja and I had a meeting to discuss where we go from here - make some cuts to tighten things up a bit, etc. There is much work to be done.
Parts of this process have been frustrating. My job as a music director/coach is not to teach pitches. I am in charge of diction - making sure people are understood, ensemble, phrasing, tempos, etc. It's a very creative process - trying to figure out what's in the music. But I am still working with people just to get the right notes and rhythms. For awhile it was OK - I know that it's hard music and I got to try all kinds of strategies for helping them learn what sometimes seem like random notes. But it's starting to get old.
As is rehearsal for 3 or more hours, 4 nights a week.
So I am enjoying the journey - it's fun to be a part of this process - seeing a show come to life and take on an identity in itself.
But I am looking forward to the end of these intense rehearsals. Only a couple more weeks!

Here's some more details:
http://peabodyopera.org/seasons/s1112/tempest11/#directors