Mozart, Bach, Klezmer, Josephine Baker, Debussy, Ensemble Sub Masa, The Muppets, Glam Rock (esp. Sparks and David Bowie), naughty schoolgirls, donuts/burgers
What is Operadisiac?
Where did this concept come from?
I have a fascination with Baroque opera. When opera was new it was a lively, scandalous thing performed in a noisy atmosphere of people gambling, eating, and socializing. I wanted to bring opera back to its roots by making it new again. To do this we use a variety of tricks to make opera interesting, accessible, and relevant to a modern audience. Hence, the burlesque, the fancy costumes, the comedy, the incorporation of other musical genres, and whatever else we think up. So, Operadisiac is rather undefinable. However, it is always very entertaining - even if you know nothing about opera.
We sing a variety of opera arias and art songs interspersed with accordion solos and variety schtick. There are several burlesque numbers, but it's not solely a burlesque show. Operadisiac used to be called Operotica which was founded by Juliana Brandon and Melissa Young with piano. We decided to change the name to avoid being confused with Operatica.
ABOUT JULIANA BRANDON Juliana Brandon is a soprano on the forefront of
Seattle's classical revolution. Not only is she a co-founder of
Operadisiac, but she also helped start Rotary Bear, the Renaissance electronica
duo with Matt Menovcik. She has sung with Opera Jupiter
and occasionally sings opera with the Midway Orchestra,
Pure Cirkus' metal band. To her traditional vocal credit
she is often a soloist with the Seattle Bach Choir and
has sung the role of Barbarina in "The Marriage of Figaro"
with the Amadeus Ensemble in Salzburg. She is currently studying voice with renowned singer Nancy Zylstra.
ABOUT MELISSA YOUNG Melissa Young got her start in music early on in life. In school, she joined every choir and was persuaded, by her choir teacher Mr. Ballou, to take private voice lessons. After high school she went to Highline community college, then transfered to Shoreline to study with Susan Dolacky. It is at Shoreline where Melissa met Julia and they started up the group Operotica. It eventually was changed to Operadisiac. Melissa has been in several shows at Shoreline including the musicals, "The Boyfriend", "Cabaret", and some of the opera scenes such as "Eugene Onegin". She has also performed in the condensed one act versions of "Suor Angelica" playing the Nursing sister and "Carmen" playing Mercedes. Melissa loves opera and hopes to have a career in the field as well as have her own voice studio.
ABOUT MARCHETTE DUBOIS Marchette has a Bachelor of Music degree from SUNY Potsdam, where she studied voice with Patricia Misslin. She started playing accordion in 1994. That same year, at Cornell University, she took a class on Hungarian and Eastern European music, and became obsessed. She moved to Seattle in 1996, where continued to play accordion, learn Balkan tunes, and write operas.
In 1999 she joined Ensemble Sub Masa. When she heard Taraf de Haidouks for the first time her brain exploded and she's been forced to travel the world looking for the missing pieces. Some bits were found as far away as Romania and Turkey in the summer of 2006. Other bits were sitting in the bottom of the accordion case in the closet.
You can also hear Marchette playing accordion with Hell's Bellows, Seattle's hottest accordion quartet.
Ach! You are in Salzburg then. I do hope you will look up my parents and tell them that you are a very special friend of mine. I wish that I could be there to show you around.
Do try to make your way to Vienna and I will do everything in my power to ensure that you have a good time!
When's the next Operdidiac performance? I'm about a quart low on my classical opera, and the naked lady aspect just enhances my midsummer nights dreams. ;)
Tickets are going fast! Click on the image to order your tickets today!
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Let me take a small pause here, in the middle of the story, to stress to all who can here my voice just how amazingly absurd and fun Operadisiac can be...
