Richmond, Norfolk, Fairfax, VA (November 7, 2016) On Tuesday, November 22 Virginia Opera will present its annual public Master Teacher Series featuring Scottish Stage Director, Paul Curran.
From Bucharest to the Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Curran has traveled the globe inspiring performers. His ability to connect with artists and help them maximize their physical and vocal communicative strength on stage makes him the one of the most sought-after directors on the planet.
Mr. Curran’s supreme talent will inspire Virginia Opera’s Herndon Foundation Emerging Artists as they immerse themselves in an intensive three-day workshop environment from November 20-22. He is scheduled to work with 15 of Virginia Opera’s Emerging Artists helping them discover important performance techniques invaluable to their operatic careers. The popularity of television programs like the Voice relates to the Master Teacher Series format Virginia Opera offers each season. Professionals in the field critique young hopefuls and mentor their presentation style. The public’s fascination with the process of developing young talent and watching the performance process live has become big business in the entertainment world. Fortunately for Virginia Opera’s Herndon Foundation Emerging Artists, their experience with Curran will not be broadcast on national television. However, the final master class on November 22 at Dominion Arts Center is open to the public and always attracts a substantial following of friends, fans, students and teachers.
Mr. Curran traveled a few paths before choosing stage direction. Besides playing the clarinet as a student, he has been a ballet dancer, interpreter, stage manager, and finally a stage director for the world’s most highly respected opera houses. After a hip injury ended his dancing career, he enrolled in the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney to study directing. Clearly his destiny was fulfilled through this path. His life experience is a rich resource for the multifaceted art form that is opera. Recent production highlights include: La Donna del Lago Metropolitan Opera, New York; La Traviata Bucharest National Opera; La Cenerentola Teatro Maestanza Seville; Tristan und Isolde Teatro La Fenice Venice; La Donna del Lago Santa Fe Opera; Rusalka at the New National Theatre Tokyo; Pagliacci Royal Danish Theatre and Norwegian National Opera; Albert Herring Los Angeles Opera; a new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Teatro Dell’Opera Roma. Curran will direct Virginia Opera’s opening production of the 2017-2018 season.
Virginia Opera is honored to welcome Mr. Curran as featured Master Teacher for the 2016 Master Teacher Series and encourages the public to attend the final session at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, November 22 at the Gottwald Theatre in Dominion Arts Center.
About Virginia Opera Virginia Opera Association, Inc., in its 42nd season, is known and respected nationwide for the identification and presentation of the finest young artists, for the musical and dramatic integrity of its productions, and for the ingenuity and variety of its education and outreach programs. Mainstage performances in three markets across the Commonwealth reach nearly 50,000 attendees annually. In March of 1994, by unanimous vote of the Virginia General Assembly, Virginia Opera was named The Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia in recognition of the organization’s contribution to the state as well as to the world of opera. For tickets and information visit vaopera.org or call 866.673.7282.
CONTACT: Ellen Bender, Development and Marketing Director, Central/Northern Virginia P.O. BOX 784 ● RICHMOND, VA 23218 PHONE: 804-644-8168 EXT. 3396 EMAIL: ELLEN.BENDER@VAOPERA.ORG