The design presentation, which made to us by Mark and Hamish last week, was in a way the first tangible step towards the creation of our production. Having approved it, the set can be built, costumes designed and made and other details of the show filled in.
But it is also just part of a process that started nearly two years ago.
Here is an outline of the stages leading to opening night of a Pinchgut Opera production:
Eighteen months to two years before, the work is chosen. Antony and Alison propose an opera to the rest of the team and together we make the final decision. It is primarily an artistic choice but Liz, Anna and Ken consider the budget and how the show can be marketed. We do not look for popular works but generally there needs to be some element that makes it an important opera to present to Australian audiences. And something that makes it a work that we think only Pinchgut can do.
Around the same time, Alison and Antony propose soloists. The lead time to book busy singers can be several years so we need to look further out in our planning. Pinchgut's reputation is so strong now - for excellent productions and as an enjoyable place to work - that many wonderful singers want to work with us when their schedules allow. The choice of soloists is mostly left to Antony and Alison, as the artistic experts with occasional comments or requests from the rest. (With great respect to sopranos, if Ken had his way, mezzos would sing all the roles.)
We also choose a director. He or she needs to be right for the work and right for Pinchgut. He or she also must understand that we look for creativity in place of big budgets.
All through this, the budget is being refined. Andrew as production manager is in charge of the budget. The main factor in fixing the budget is the choice of the work. That determines the number of soloists, the size of the chorus and orchestra etc. The other elements - the set, costumes, marketing etc - do not change much from show to show. It is tempting to look for a work with two soloists, no chorus and a band of three multi-skilled players, but we do not think such a work would meet our artistic objectives. And it certainly would not satisfy our very demanding audiences.
More tomorrow....