Triangle Opera Studios

07/16/2017

Folks, we closed down Triangle Opera Studios some months ago because no one seemed very interested in supporting it. We couldn't raise money to improve our production standards, we couldn't seem to generate significant community enthusiasm for our projects and - worst of all - we couldn't seem to get singers in the region to commit time and effort into making it possible even to plan new productions. And the whole idea of TOS was to provide those very singers with performance opportunities - not so they could earn money - but so they could build their resumes and gain some practical experience on stage WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY EXORBITANT TUITION FEES as they would have to do in most comparable organizations. My wife and I could not do it all by ourselves - even with help from a few wonderful and tireless volunteers who donated time and effort and skill into providing production settings for the participating singers. These people got nothing for their efforts other than the satisfaction of having helped a worthwhile project. I would love to see TOS rise from the ashes and continue to offer presentations of the quality we provided for four years; but we need singers' commitment and dollars in order to make that happen. We need singers to understand the "rep company mentality" - that for one production, you may sing a small part or even in the chorus so that there is a company to provide you the opportunity in the next season to sing a lead role! We need major contributors to write out checks big enough to help us finance instrumental accompaniment, rental of acceptable performance venues and some minimal production resources. We never aspired to "Aida" with camels and elephants; but minimal resources to back committed singers would be nice. We have a wonderful professional opera company in the Triangle and it deserves full support of the community. But TOS also had a vital contribution to make to the cultural life of the Triangle and it would have been wonderful to continue to make that contribution. But it could not come out of nowhere. If the community really wants a Triangle Opera Studios, we would love to make it go again. Just let us hear something of substance. Otherwise, I just have to figure out how to shut down the website.

01/08/2017

Thanks for your continued interest. I wrote my final regretful post a few days ago. Again, I urge full support - financial and otherwise - to NC Opera and the fine efforts of Eric and Tim. Mr. A.J. started it - Scott picked up the ball and ran with it - Bob and Margaret kept it going - and the torch is now passed to NCO! I am very proud of the tiny contribution TOS made. And we can all be proud of the great operatic tradition of the Triangle!

01/02/2017

Hello Friends! I must repeat that we have closed TOS down with regrets and with thanks to all the people who have supported us financially and with donations of talent and skill and imagination. We are very proud of the work we were able to get done - low-budget but high quality productions of Cav/Pag, Don Giovanni and a Menotti double bill - The Medium and Old Maid and the Thief. But lack of funds and - frankly - lack of commitment from enough singers to keep up a viable ensemble caused us to accept the handwriting on the wall. This website has not yet come down simply because we want to dismantle it carefully so as not to lose the samples of our work included on the site. So I sadly announce that there will be no more TOS projects and urge you all to throw full support to NC Opera here in the Triangle. They are doing some really fine productions that rival the best being offered anywhere in the country. Eric and Tim have put us back in the big leagues - at least in terms of quality. I am sure they will welcome the enthusiasm and support some of you have so kindly offered TOS here. Thank you all so very much for your interest! And happy 2017. May it keep the world singing...and singing well!

03/17/2015

We will be hosting a birthday and recovery party and concert for Christine Weidinger.

https://www.facebook.com/events/750555815062586/

08/17/2014

Here is the review of our Friday evening recital, performed by Jianghai Ho, Stephanie Thurm and David Heid. Many thanks to CVNC and Ken Hoover for the thorough and positive review!

CVNC: An Online Arts Journal in North Carolina | From Triangle Opera Studios: Two Soaring Young Singers

06/10/2013

Thank you to William Thomas Walker of Classical Voice North Carolina for attending and reviewing Saturday night's performance of The Old Maid and the Thief and The Medium. We greatly appreciate your support!

CVNC: An Online Arts Journal in North Carolina | Triangle Opera Studios' Satisfying Gian Carlo Menotti Double Bill

06/09/2013

It's a lovely afternoon for some opera! Today at 2pm at Durham School of the Arts is our last performance of The Old Maid and the Thief and The Medium. Toi, toi, toi to our final cast!

06/08/2013

Thank you to everyone who braved the rain to enjoy our opening night performance! Marti Boger portrayed a wonderful Baba in The Medium and Ariel Reed did a wonderful Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief.

Tonight and Sunday afternoon, Ericka Kristin Moye will be singing the role of Laetitia alongside Kurt Melges as Bob, Monifa Harris as Miss Todd and Monica Szabo-Nyeste as Miss Pinkerton.

The title role of The Medium will be sung by Stephanie Thurm and Monica will be sung by Faith Houck.

Sunday afternoon, Marie Miller will be performing Baba and Caitlin Reyna will sing Monica. We hope you can come see the hard work our singers have done to put these roles together, only made possible by the outstanding leadership or our artistic director, Ken Smith; accompanist, Catherine Hamner; conductor, Al Sturgis and of course, our Founder and Director, Christine Weidinger.

There are no tickets, but donations are gladly accepted so we can continue to provide high quality concerts and productions to the community.

06/07/2013

Dress rehearsal and performance pictures from our June 2013 production

05/08/2013

Coming Soon!! Menotti Double Bill

Triangle Opera Studios will present a double bill of short operas by the Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti. Featured are “The Old Maid and the Thief”, a work composed originally for radio broadcast, and “The Medium”, Menotti’s first international success. The performances, accompanied by pianist Catherine Hamner, will be conducted by Al Sturgis and staged by Ken Smith. WCPE's Bob Chapman will make a special appearance as the evening's announcer. Performances are slated for Friday, June 7th and Saturday, June 8th at 7:00 pm with a matinee on Sunday, June 9th at 2:00. All performances will take place in Weaver Auditorium at the Durham School of the Arts near Brightleaf Square in Durham. There is no admission charge; but donations to help defray production costs are welcome. Both operas are in English.

Singers in "The Medium" are Marti Boger, Marie Miller and Stephanie Thurm alternating in the title role; with Faith Houck and Caitlin Reyna sharing the role of Monica. Clients of the medium are Shannon French and Jean Jamison as Mrs. Nolan; Ann Forsthoefel and Monica Szabo as Mrs. Gobineau; and Kurt Melges and Bill Moran as Mr. Gobineau.

"Old Maid and the Thief" features Kurt Melges as Bob, the alleged thief; Monifa Harris and Kathryn Atkinson alternating as the old maid, Miss Todd; and Kristin Moye and Ariel Reed as her scheming maid, Laetitia. Monica Szabo and Andrea Radford alternate as the nosy neighbor, Miss Pinkerton.

04/16/2013

The Glazer's have been kind enough to open their house for a Triangle Opera Studios fundraiser on April 27th starting at 4.00pm. If you are interested in more details, please send us a message or email [email protected]. Thank you!

04/10/2013

We are very excited to announce our recent partnering with Durham School of the Arts. We will be doing our first shows of the year in their auditorium the weekend of June 7th. Rehearsals have begun for both "The Medium" and "The Old Maid and the Thief". More details to follow soon!