Singing for their vinyl
Walking into Brews in the middle of the afternoon last Friday I was shocked to find every table and bar top occupied with young people with open laptops. It was their open notebooks revealing music notes and the faint sound of classical singing that clued me in that the majority of these kids were from the Opera in the Ozarks.
It seems Brews has become a special hangout to many of the performing students because of the good coffee and beer, but more important, an Internet connection. They can sip their favorite beverage, go online, and even rehearse a little bit, together.
So on this particular day, I was heading into town with a large stack of opera vinyl to see if the new record store, just down the street from Brews, was interested in purchasing my collection. Opera is a hard sell and Mojo’s politely declined.
Striking up a conversation with some of the singers, several hands went up when asked if anyone collected vinyl and if they would perform a little something in exchange for their choice of record.
These kids are hardly shy, but many declined because they had not vocally warmed up or were saving their voices for that night’s performance. Such discipline.
But five did volunteer, turning Brews into a mini concert hall for a brief moment, where microphones need not apply. All sang beautifully, but it was tenor Felix Aguilar Tomlinson who stole the show, and chose Marilyn Horn’s Greatest Hits for a friend.
It was the spontaneity that made it fun, and watching everyone agonizing over choosing Maria Callas over Leontyne Price.
Now in its 65th year, Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point has played an important role for many of these professional graduates from all over the country, showcasing their talent and offering a chance to rehearse fully-staged productions with full orchestra in three major operas during an intensive eight-week training period.
How wonderful to see, passion, excitement and youth in what some may say is a dying art. But opera is alive and well and continues to flourish in this unlikely place we call the Ozarks.
The Marriage of Figaro, Carmen and Susannah continue through July 21. For ticket information go to opera.org