Seattle Opera Choristers Stephen Wall and Eleanor
Stallcop-Horrox, Assistant Conductor Philip A. Kelsey, and Firm Supervisor
Paula Podemski have labored on the opera a mixed complete of 145 years, creating
memorable opera experiences each onstage and behind the scenes. Tosca marks the
finish of their Seattle Opera careers, however earlier than they begin the following chapter of
their lives, these veteran professionals shared a few of their greatest reminiscences.
All agree that they’re trying ahead to being within the viewers and staying in
contact with their pals on the opera for a few years to come back.
PAULA PODEMSKI: CONCIERGE TO THE STARS
Finding close by gyms, securing childcare, and arranging
medical appointments are a few of the day-to-day artist’s requests Paula has
fulfilled because the Firm Supervisor. Employed in 1993 as a Manufacturing Assistant,
Paula turned the Firm Supervisor a number of years later. Coordinating visa
functions, casting little one performers, and recruiting supernumeraries have
been a few of her different duties.
Paula has a deep appreciation for supers as a result of they’re
volunteers who’re required to attend rehearsals and carry out in each
efficiency. “It’s an enormous dedication,” she says.
However in 1998, Paula encountered just a few supernumeraries who
weren’t prepared to go the space. She recruited 20 bodybuilders to seem
shirtless in Tristan and Isolde, a activity that took 4 months. “I went to gyms
and powerlifting and bodybuilding competitions,” she remembers. Among the many males
who volunteered, just a few weren’t very dependable. “A minimum of two to 4 of them
wouldn’t present up,” she says.
After 32 years at Seattle Opera, Paula will miss her
colleagues and volunteers probably the most. “It’s like my second household,” she says.
“It’s a gaggle that places apart private agendas for the nice of the entire, for
the nice of the present.”
PHILIP A. KELSEY: A MASTER OF THE RING
Philip has had a job at Seattle Opera because the 1983 Ring
cycle when he joined the corporate as a pianist, making him one of many few
employees members who’s labored on all three Rings.
He remembers it as an thrilling time in addition to a labor of affection, due to the
commute from Portland.
Since then, Philip has been a Music Administrator, Assistant
Conductor, and a Vocal Coach on the opera. “As a vocal coach, I assist singers
not solely with language pronunciation, but additionally with comprehending the textual content,” he
stated. So, most coaches, like him, are language junkies. “I’m fairly fluent in
German, I learn French, I perceive Italian, I’ve studied Russian, I’ve studied
Japanese, I’ve studied Czech diction, and can fortunately attempt to pronounce simply
about something appropriately.”
What’s extra, because the Assistant Conductor, Philip leads off
-stage musicians and singers, and he performs the harpsichord when a manufacturing
requires it. And through the firm’s 2009 manufacturing of Pagliacci, he
organized an 11-minute chamber piece from music by Leoncavallo, which was performed
through the efficiency.
In retirement Philip plans on spending time together with his 4
grandchildren—who reside close by.
ELEANOR STALLCOP-HORROX: MAID OF HONOR
It’s not simple being a member of an opera refrain. Typically
the costumes are uncomfortable and the choreography complicated. Then there are
occasions whenever you’re required to sing from the catwalk excessive above the stage. However
long-time soprano Eleanor Stallcop-Horrox beloved all of it. “The catwalk was a bit
scary,” says Eleanor, who has been a member of the Seattle Opera Refrain since
1997.
Eleanor fondly remembers her 2008 function in Elektra. “I
was the Fifth Maid. I assumed I’d sing
five notes. There have been three pages!” she says. Mary McLaughlin, who sang
The Overseer’s half, was directed to knock Eleanor to the floor and dunk her
head in a bucket of water. “Mary tried a number of occasions to dunk me, however the bucket
was too small, and she or he saved whacking my brow on the facet of the bucket,”
Eleanor says. Lastly, they bought a wash tub. As soon as her head was within the water, the
different maids needed to get her wig moist.
“So, when my hair got here out of the water, there was an enormous
dramatic spray of water,” she says.
The refrain is sort of a household, explains Eleanor. When she was
recognized with most cancers, the ladies accompanied her to therapies and checked on
her. “God, they had been fantastic. Completely fantastic. This can be a passionate
group of individuals. I’ll miss being round them.”
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| Stephen Wall (left) as a soldier in Il trovatore, 2019, with Head of Coach-Accompanists David McDade. |
STEPHEN WALL: THE BALLARD OPERA MAN
Tenor Stephen Wall has carried out in Seattle Opera’s Götterdämmerung
twelve occasions. “My first efficiency was within the 1982 Ring cycle, when the
firm was doing the Wagner masterwork each summer time,” he recollects.
After practically 45 years on the opera, Stephen has appeared as
a refrain member in 118 operas, has had 13 supporting roles, and has served as
the refrain personnel coordinator thrice. However his most beloved function was as
The Ballard Opera Man through the COVID-19 pandemic.
When everybody was caught inside and socially distancing,
Stephen stumbled into the function. He started taking part in string bass on his entrance garden.
Folks seen and he quickly changed the bass with karaoke opera. “I assumed I
would simply make some noise and see if anybody would stick their heads out of
their entrance doorways,” Stephen remembers.
The neighbors did greater than stick their heads exterior—they
started attending his improvised recitals. When the native media revealed tales
about his performances, extra folks got here. On the top of his recognition,
Stephen believes round 200 folks got here out to listen to 25 minutes of
music. “I used to be conflicted. I used to be having fun with it, however I didn’t wish to encourage social gatherings. There have been
guidelines—six toes distance, masks, and the entire ball of wax,” he remembers. He
carried out 100 front-yard recitals through the pandemic.
