My name is Monastatosaximus. However, when I met my golfer Sarastro, he immediately said, "That's too long. I'll call you Monastatos for short." I had no choice but to let that stick (it could be worse- in school there was this annoying rhythmic gymnast who kept calling me 'Toast') I've... Continue reading

Having first performed Tamino five years ago as an undergraduate student, it’s been a huge joy to come back to this brilliant score and dust off my Mozart chops. Mozart roles are notoriously challenging for tenors because of the high part of the voice in which the vocal line tends... Continue reading

Only 4 days away! I have had such a wonderful time preparing for VOC’s production of the Magic Flute this past month that the time has just flown by (like one of Papageno’s cute little birdies)! Cast as the Queen of the Night, my reaction to our very creative director’s concept of a sports-themed children’s adaptation was absolute delight. Continue reading

Insight by Yasmeen Schuller, Managing Director of Verismo Opera Club and Parttime Dragon Trainer As we were reviewing the playing cards of each of the characters, my husband, Bradley Schuller (also Artistic Director) and I joked that it would be funny to have a card with our rescue poodle-mix, Shakespeare... Continue reading

Fun and games with Mozart's 'Magic Flute' http://www.pioneerlocal.com/oakpark/entertainment/3109670,entertainment-west-verismo-031711-s1.article March 17, 2011 By DOROTHY ANDRIES Contributor The Queen of the Night as a snowboarder? Pamina and Tamino as cheerleaders for Oak Park River Forest High School? You've got it right! Sports are prominent in the Verismo Opera Club's production of Mozart's... Continue reading

Hello! I'm Seán, the Papageno cover for VOC's 2011 Magic Flute. I've spent the past few weeks studying Mozart's music, polishing my interpretations, exacting my memorization, reviewing staging, and mouthing all the words throughout rehearsals. Sometimes being a cover can feel as though one is in a precarious position. Questions linger in the mind: "Am I really ready to go on in an emergency? Do I know all my stuff, or do I just THINK I know it and have a false sense of security? What if I miss my blocking? What if my colleagues hate my characterizations? What if I stumble and frustrate my fellow singers in their delicate scene, or disappoint the director? What if I squash someone else's nuance by acting AT them rather than with them?". Continue reading

As I was sitting on the El this morning with my hula hoop, ball, and ribbon, I was pondering all of the opera roles I’ve prepared for and how every experience is so different. For this adaptation of The Magic Flute my preparation has been largely focused on the staging.... Continue reading

Papagena is the quintessential commedia dell arte comedienne character. First, the comedienne’s name is the feminization of her male counterpart’s name. Second, the comedienne is dressed in the same style as her counterpart... Continue reading

Last Saturday we began “staging rehearsals” for Verismo’s production of The Magic Flute. “Staging rehearsals” are those dedicated periods of time when the stage director gives specific movement to the artists who will be portraying the characters in the piece. And every director has their own style of handling this very important, but potentially tedious installment of the process. Some directors ask their artists to move about according to what feels right to them in that particular moment, and then use those organically created physical moments to shape something that matches the arch of the scene or makes the most desirable stage picture. On the opposite end of the spectrum are directors who know exactly what they want in every single second, and spend “staging rehearsal” time conveying “the how,” “the why” and “the when” to the assembly. Continue reading

After the initial congratulations andexcitement, they proceeded with the normal questions. What show is this? What isyour part? How do you say her name again? My parents are incredibly supportive,but they are not opera goers (unless I am in the show of course) so I then set about telling them about my new role: the spirited, clever and extremely likeablesoubrette that is Papagena. Continue reading

Sara Salas will be performing with Verismo Opera Club for the first time in Mozart's Magic Flute as Queen of the Night. Continue reading

David Govertsen will be performing with Verismo Opera Club for the first time in Mozart's Magic Flute as Sarastro. Continue reading

Sarah McIntyre will be performing with Verismo Opera Club for the first time in Mozart's Magic Flute as Pamina. Continue reading

Mark Donlin will be performing with Verismo Opera Club for the first time in Mozart's Magic Flute as Tamino. Learn more about Magic Flute and purchase your tickets today at: http://www.verismooperaclub.org Continue reading

Today marks the end of Verismo’s first year as an opera company. Thank you for your support this past year as audience members and supporters of our fledgling opera company. We have some great shows planned to finish out our first season, The Magic Flute will be performed March 25... Continue reading

Mozart’s The Magic Flute Expect the Unexpected March 25 & 27 Bring the entire family to this whimsical, magical experience. Sung in English and accompanied by a narrator, kids of all ages will enjoy watching as the main character, Tamino meets a colorful cast of characters including the lovely Pamina,... Continue reading

We had a great time singing carols on the sleigh ride. Three Verismo tenors came out to sing during the festivities. Here are some pictures from today's event. Happy Holidays!! Verismo Opera Club will be performing Mozart's The Magic Flute this March 25 & 27 in English. Come join us... Continue reading

There is no clear career path for those that would direct for the lyric stage. I have had the pleasure of being directed in Opera-Land by those who had been, or indeed still were, singers, conductors, choreographers, film-makers, and upon occasion, the itinerant Director of Plays. And every one of... Continue reading

Here are four videos from the Oak Park Cookie Walk today. We were stationed at the Visitors Center and had a lovely time singing, being interviewed by Girl Scouts, and meeting cookie collectors! Thanks for coming out today. We'll be back at the Oak Park Visitors Center on Saturday, December... Continue reading

Special thanks to Samantha's dad, Steve Stein for sharing these lovely pictures from the performance on Friday night. If you haven't bought your tickets for Sunday's show, go to http://www.verismooperaclub.com and reserve your tickets for the LAST performance of La Bohème!! Christian Elser as Marcello, Jonathan Stinson as Schaunard, Bradley... Continue reading

Can't wait until tomorrow! If you still haven't reserved your tickets, you can still buy tickets online at http://www.verismooperaclub.com and at the door on Friday and Sunday. Mary Lutz-Govertsen as Mimi Jonathan Stinson as Schaunard Bradley Schuller as Rodolfo Aaron Hunt as Benoit David Laub as Colline Christian Elser as... Continue reading

Blog by Managing Director of Verismo Opera Club, Yasmeen Schuller. I took a peek at the tech week rehearsals today and took a few preview snaps of the rehearsal of La Bohème. Backstage with David Laub as Colline A poet, a painter and a philosopher breaking bread, drinking wine. Rodolfo... Continue reading

While weather didn't seem to be on our side at first, it ended up being a beautiful night to return to the Midweek Market in Oak Park last Wednesday. Wearing their new "Verismo Opera Club" t-shirts, the singers came out to sing - rain or shine. After the other singers... Continue reading

So I'm heading into Tech Week of Boheme, and trying to wrap my mind around Musetta. I always thought it would be easy to play her...she's a crazy sexy girl who just wants to get her way all the time. But it turns out that I am too "nice" onstage... Continue reading

How the time flies! My calendar tells me that, one week from tomorrow night, we will have our opening night of La Boheme at Verismo! I’ve been busily singing my two roles nearly every day. I sing them when I think I’m in good voice, and when I think I... Continue reading