What it looks like to prepare for the premiere of children’s opera “The Three Feathers”
We’re just weeks away from the world premiere of children’s opera The Three Feathers, commissioned by the Center for the Arts and composed by Lori Laitman, with libretto by Dana Gioia.
The cast and crew of The Three Feathers have been working feverishly to prepare for opening night on Friday, Oct. 17, and we have a first sneak peek at some of the beautiful music from the opera.
For instance, here’s Dora’s aria from The Three Feathers, and for more behind-the-scenes action, check here for a look back at the gorgeous costume renderings for the opera as well.
We even got a peek a few weeks ago at an early costume fitting for two of the actors–which was incredible to begin to see the renderings come to life! Virginia Tech students Liam Dillon, who plays the King, and Katherine Combs (Tilda) met with Jane Stein, assistant professor of costume design here at VT, as well as Beth Christensen (costume shop manager) and Cathleen Conner (first hand stitcher).
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Tickets are still available for each of the four scheduled performances: Friday, October 17, 2014 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, October 18, 2014, at 2 PM and 7:30 PM; and Sunday, October 19, 2014, at 2 PM. We can’t wait to share this beautiful experience with you!
One Cool Thing: Orchestra shell at the Moss Arts Center
The orchestra shell is one of the best tools we can give our performing musicians. It helps to direct the sound back towards the musicians as they’re playing, as well as to the audience members, rather than up into the catwalk above the stage.
Wally Easter, associate professor of music in the School of Performing Arts at Virginia Tech, explains how the orchestra shell helps to enhance sound during orchestral performances.
Our One Cool Thing series continues on the blog next week–be sure to check back then!
One Cool Thing: Lighting at the Moss Arts Center
We love to let you guys peek behind the curtain here at the Moss Arts Center, into areas of the building you wouldn’t usually see, or to learn about processes about which you hardly think twice while watching a performance.
Have you ever wondered what goes into lighting the stage to give you, our lovely patrons, a perfect experience?
Our lighting supervisor, Gustavo Araoz, lets you in on the secret to his success.
Be sure to check back here for more sneak peeks from our staff.
Video: Take a hardhat tour of the new building with executive director Ruth Waalkes
Take a tour of the new Center for the Arts building, on the corner of Alumni Mall and Main St., with our executive director Ruth Waalkes.
We’re only a few short months away from our grand opening–and that week is filled with tons of exciting events!
A bridge in the Grand Lobby?
Odili Donald Odita’s artwork brightened the spaces in the Miles C. Horton Jr. Gallery during the Evolving Geometries: Line, Form, and Color exhibition, which closed late last month. His paintings, so full of color, so vibrant and energetic, were a complete pleasure to have here in the Moss Arts Center.
But luckily, we don’t have to give up ALL of his work.
Odita’s expansive mural, Bridge, is in the Grand Lobby of the center, and will remain up for at least a year. It was such a treat to watch as the mural came together, bit by bit, day after day for nearly a month.
Check out this video and hear Odita discuss his inspiration for the video: our beautiful building!
You can see Bridge for yourself whenever the Moss Arts Center is open. For details on building hours and closings, please see our calendar.