don’t miss ‘The Art of Silent Film Accompaniment’ TODAY at noon!

Monday, April 16th | First Christian Church, 1314 SW Park Ave @ SW Columbia St, Portland

12:00pm  (bring your lunch!)

$5 suggested donation | FREE with valid student ID

Doug Schneider weaving a Wagnerian improv to "The Black Pirate" in November 2011

**This masterclass is open to the public! **

Want to learn more about improvisation? Educate yourself with OTO’s public masterclass series on the art of silent film accompaniment. Way before today’s mega-budget films with Howard Shore and John Williams scores, silent films were accompanied live, with a pianist or organist creating the score on the fly. The accompanist’s charge was to engage the film’s story and visual atmosphere in real time, and no two nights ever sounded alike.

Pianist and insanely talented improviser Douglas Schneider will challenge students to create on-the-spot accompaniments to select scenes from “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” helping them hone their skills right in front of the audience!

Douglas Schneider “swashed as many buckles at the keyboard as the film’s star, Douglas Fairbanks, did on screen.” -Brett Campbell, Oregon Arts Watch

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WHAT: The Art of Silent Film Accompaniment, a public masterclass given by Douglas Schneider

WHEN: Monday, April 16th, 12:00 pm  (bring your lunch!)

WHERE: First Christian Church, 1314 SW Park Ave (just 2 blocks North of PSU), Portland

TICKETS: No ticket required ($5 suggested donation at the door).  FREE with student ID.

A Night of Vintage Horror coming this Friday the 13th!

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it…

FRIDAY APRIL 13TH 

7pm (doors 6) | The Mission Theater

SILENT FILM

 LIVE IMPROVISED SOUND

with tenor Daniel Buchanan | pianist Douglas Schneider

flutist Jayde Weide | percussionist Ian Kerr

This one-night-only Friday the 13th show is the latest installment of our “Opera vs. Cinema” series, which pairs forgotten silent films with live, entirely improvised accompaniment from favorite operas.

Shakespearian actor John Barrymore stars in this early silent film version of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” the dark and probing drama that explores the savage side in all of us: can it be controlled? Tamed? Killed? Barrymore gives a
wrenching and captivating performance without the aid of cinematic devices and special effects that would come with later versions of this classic tale.

Explore your inner demons with drink specials such as “The Devil and Johnny Walker,” the “Sweeney Martini”  and “Evil Dead Ale,” and watch tenor Daniel Buchanan, pianist Douglas Schneider, flutist Jayde Weide and percussionist Ian Kerr concoct a live, entirely improvised accompaniment before your eyes (and ears), inspired by John Adams’ riveting opera “Dr. Atomic.”

Tickets on sale now!

Ever wonder how it’s done? Check out “The Art of Silent Film Accompaniment” on Monday, April 16th at noon! Pianist Douglas Schneider will discuss the ins and outs of improvisation and work with three students, helping them to concoct their own film accompaniments right in front of the audience! 

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WHAT:  ”Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde vs. Dr. Atomic,” a silent film screening with live improvised accompaniment by pianist Douglas Schneider, percussionist Ian Kerr, flutist Jayde Weide and  tenor Daniel Buchanan

WHEN: Friday, April 13th, 7:00pm (doors 6pm)

WHERE: The Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR 97209

TICKETS: $12.00 (day of show/ at the door) $9.00 (advance sales). click here to buy tickets!

check out this event on the  Mission Theater website

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

2011-2012 Season Sponsor

KAREN WERNER-PETAK

Founding Circle Sponsors

ANN and MARK EDLEN FAMILY

Additional Sponsors

What can you do to keep Opera Safe for America?

This spring, we are proud to present our 15th main stage production: “You’re Still as Beautiful,” an original adaptation of Claude Debussy’s stunning and achingly beautiful opera “Pelléas et Mélisande.” We need your help! Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to OTO in support of this production. You can specify “main stage” on your check memo or in the Paypal special instructions to ensure that your donation will be earmarked for this project. Here are some examples of what your donation can provide:

$2000: Artist fees

$1000:  Chamber Ensemble (quartet)

$700: Theatrical lighting equipment rental

$500: Piano delivery and tuning

$350: Costumes, makeup and wigs

$200: Rehearsal space

$100: Advertisement in weekly newspapers

$40: Program printing

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If you are unable to donate at this time, but still want to help, we are always in need of volunteers of various skill sets and interests. Please contact us for more information.

At OTO, we strive to bring innovative and affordable productions to Portland audiences. It’s part of our mission! Your contributions make this possible. Thank you for your support!

Don’t miss “The Art of Silent Film Accompaniment” TODAY at the Mission Theater!

Ever wonder how improv works? How do four people improvise together? What makes a good silent film accompaniment?

If you want to find out more,  come see

 “The Art of Silent Film Accompaniment”

The Mission Theater | Saturday, February 11th | 2pm (doors 1:30 pm)
$5 advance, $7 day of show | FREE with valid student ID ! 

Minors ok with parent or guardian

Douglas Schneider "swashed as many buckles at the keyboard as the film's star, Douglas Fairbanks, did on screen." -Brett Campbell, Oregon Arts Watch

Educate yourself by coming to the launch of OTO’s new public masterclass series on the lost art of silent film improvisation! Way before today’s mega-budget films with Howard Shore and John Williams scores, silent films were accompanied live, with a pianist or organist creating the score on the fly. The accompanist’s charge was to engage the film’s story and visual atmosphere in real time, and no two nights ever sounded alike.

Pianist and insanely talented improviser Douglas Schneider will challenge three brave students to create on-the-spot accompaniments to select scenes from Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis,” helping them hone their skills right in front of the audience!

Announcing our brave and talented students:
Kate Petak, harp | Stephanie Cooke, piano | Travis Chapman, violin

Relax with a burger and a beer at the Mission Theater!  Entertain and educate yourself at the same time!

Purchase tickets here!

Check out this event on Facebook

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WHAT: The Art of Silent Film Accompaniment

WHEN: Saturday, February 11th, 2:00 pm

WHERE: The Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR 97209

TICKETS: $7 (at the door) $5 (advance sales). Free with student ID.  Available through McMenamins, http://www.mcmenamins.com/events/98926

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All Classical 89.9′s Edmund Stone hosting trivia contest tonight!

Don’t miss…
‘Aida vs. Metropolis‘
The Mission Theater
7pm
click here for tickets! Also available at the door.

We’re thrilled to invite Edmund Stone, host of All Classical 89.9′s movie-and-music program “The Score,” as our “Opera and Cinema” Trivia Contest host tonight at 6:30!

“The Score” explores the classical music that enhances what we see on the screen. Click here to find out more about the show! “The Score” airs every Saturday and Sunday at 2pm (this Sat. only, “The Score” airs at 3, after 89.9′s broadcast of the gargantuan-lengthed “Götterdammerung.” This week, for Valentine’s Day, Stone focuses on scores for films about unlikely couples.

If you’re going to ‘Aida vs. Metropolis‘ tonight, Be sure to show up at 6:30 to enjoy the dulcet tones of Edmund Stone, and be lucky that he is not competing against you in this contest of opera and movie trivia.

See you there!

Art for the 99%: “Aida vs. Metropolis” Coming February 10th!

“Death to the machines!”

Fritz Lang’s groundbreaking sci-fi legend “Metropolis” envisions an urban dystopia marked by a sharp divide between the working class and the ownership class. The 1927 film may have been made during the Weimar Republic, but members of the 2012 Occupy movement will find a lot to identify with in Lang’s protest against economic and social inequality. Opera Theater Oregon celebrates the connection between art and activism in the latest installment of their innovative “Opera vs. Cinema” series, which pairs silent films with improvised accompaniment from favorite operas. On February 10th at the Mission Theater, they bring “Metropolis” to the big screen with live improvised accompaniment based on themes from Giuseppe Verdi’s grand opera “Aida.”

Pianist Douglas Schneider, who premiered OTO’s series with a solo Wagnerian accompaniment to “The Black Pirate vs. The Flying Dutchman,” ups the ante this time by teaming up with violinist Greg Ewer in a duo improvisation based on themes from Verdi’s most popular opera. Special guests Helen Funston, soprano and Kate Petak, harp spice up the performance as the voice of Maria the heroine/cyborg.

Doug Schneider tickling the ivories at "The Black Pirate vs. the Flying Dutchman," Nov. 25, 2011"

Doug “swashed as many buckles at the keyboard as the film’s star,Douglas Fairbanks, did on screen.”  -Brett Campbell, Oregon Arts Watch 

Doors open at 6pm- liberate yourself with dystopian drink specials such as the “1984,” “Soylent Green” and “Logan’s Rum” and show off your knowledge of cinema and opera at the pre-show trivia contest to win prizes donated by local businesses The Someday Lounge,
The Mark Spencer Hotel and Music Millennium. This performance shows
for one night only. Minors ok with parent or guardian.

As a bonus, OTO kicks off its public masterclass series “The Art of Silent Film Accompaniment” at the Mission Theater on February 11 at 2pm. Douglas Schneider will challenge aspiring improvisers to accompany select scenes from “Metropolis” and help them hone their chops in front of the audience. This event is FREE with student ID.

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WHAT: Opera vs. Cinema: Aida vs. Metropolis, a silent film screening with live improvised accompaniment by pianist Douglas Schneider and violinist Gregory Ewer. With special guests Helen Funston, soprano and Kate Petak, harp.

WHEN: Friday, February 10th, 7:00pm (doors 6pm, trivia contest 6:30pm)

WHERE: The Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR 97209

TICKETS: $12.00 (at the door) $9.00 (advance sales). Special $12 combo ticket (advance only) includes admission to February 11th masterclass “The Art of Silent Film Accompaniment.” Available through McMenamins, http://www.mcmenamins.com/events/98865

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

2011-2012 Season Sponsor

KAREN WERNER-PETAK

Founding Circle Sponsors

ANN and MARK EDLEN FAMILY

Additional Sponsors

Trivia Contest prizes generously donated by: