Dominic Papatola, arts commentator for Morning Edition and theater critic for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, discussed the biggest arts stories of 2008 in a Dec. 18th segment on Morning Edition. In it, he mentioned both the success of the "Vote Yes" campaign in passing the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, as well as Minnesota OperaWorks, Minnesota Opera's landmark new-works campaign.
Hear it here.
If you were among those who attended the world premiere of The Grapes of Wrath, then you know the combination of warmth and humor that makes Ricky Ian Gordon's music so affecting. If you weren't, don't miss the chance to hear the delightful Mr. Gordon performing his own songs this Saturday on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion.
The show aired on Dec. 27 from 5-7pm - click here to view the show's archive page, or click the links below to hear streaming audio from the program.
Hear Ricky sing "Finding Home" and "Heaven"
Ricky speaks with Garrison Keillor, and sings "A Horse with Wings"
Hope Sings Eternal with Opera
GRAYDON ROYCE, Star Tribune
Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008
It
was the day after Christmas, 2007. Nicole Percifield rose at 4 a.m. on
her family's 4,000-acre farm. Driving to Calgary International Airport,
her dad was trying to cut the Canadian chill, but Percifield worried
what the car heater's hot, dry air would do to her vocal cords. She was
due in Minneapolis for a callback audition for the Minnesota Opera's
Resident Artists Program (RAP) and she couldn't be too careful.
Minnesota Opera announces Minnesota OperaWorks
Landmark new works initiative includes an international coproduction, three revivals of American works and three commissions in seven years.
Minnesota OperaWorks is a landmark program designed to invigorate the operatic repertoire with an infusion of contemporary works. It is a multi-year, $5.5 million commitment that will energize the company, the community, the industry and the art form. The Minnesota OperaWorks program includes an international coproduction, three revivals of American works and three commissions by American composers.
Click here to read about it in the Star Tribune
Click here to hear Euan Kerr discuss it on Minnesota Public Radio
Click here for the Associated Press article
Arts Partners receive combined $2.25 million in Wallace Foundation Excellence Awards
The Ordway Center, The Minnesota Opera, and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra have each been awarded audience-development grants.
This year, the Wallace Foundation focused their giving in two communities (Seattle and the Twin Cities), awarding a total of eight WEA grants to arts and culture organizations in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Of that number, the MN Opera, SPCO and OCPA have each been awarded $750,000 - the maximum grant amount possible - which will be disbursed over the next four years.