Monteverdi at OWU

I'm back! This past weekend I went to the "Monteverdi Reimagined" performance here at OWU. It was amazing! The music was great and the singers were spectacular, as I expected. I sat in the balcony since the best seating was up there. As you can see behind me, there's are very large projector screen. While the singers were doing their musical thing, a slideshow with videos, pictures, and words appeared on the screen to help the audience figure what each song was about (the whole performance was in Italian). It was really cool. Isn't technology wonderful? I had an amazing time and was very glad I went. My human Erika went too since her friend Sarah sang in the opera. We had a great time.

This is a picture of Sarah, who I got to meet after the show. She's cool and allowed me to take a picture with her. Isn't she's just awesome!?! She even signed my program! The other picture is me posing with the program and the ticket.

Have a good one everyone; I'll be checking back in really soon!

Early Music

This Side of the Atlantic

Last night, AMRS freshman Becca Pollard and her roommate Kristen Schwacha joined Dr. Knapp and myself for a student performance of madrigals about love written by the Baroque master composter, Monteverdi. (Here we are posing from the balcony of Jemison auditorium after the performance).

I love early music, and this was a particularly lovely performance of some of the finest madrigals about love written in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Most impressive of all was the vocal talent of OWU vocal music students. Every student sang both in ensemble and solo, delighting everyone with the beautiful harmonies and playful improvisations. You couldn't listen without wanting to be an opera diva yourself!

Another fantastic thing about this early music performance was the updated, multi-media setting. As the performers sang each madrigal, video was projected on the screen behind them, showcasing gracefully executed dance performances, stylized renditions of lovers in various poses (the hopes of a new love, the disappointments of an old love lost), and creative graphics displays of the song lyrics (in English translation).

This was a wonderful night out with AMRS students!

If you haven't ever had a chance to enjoy this music, I recommend the following:

dr demarco