I extract what I consider the best material from different sources. But often the material I perform comes from a very strange location in history, which are minstrel shows.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I'm not comfortable with just entertaining. Although I like entertaining, I also like bringing forward the truth of our times as minstrels used to in the old days.
Sometimes in the past when I was going to perform a piece again I would listen to old recordings and try to reproduce the material. This time I realized that carrying around old information, trying to get everything in, and still be in the moment just doesn't work.
I don't want my writing to be so unique that when you apply it to different genres, it seems like the previous show that people know you from.
I'm always keeping an eye out for a period piece. I was trained in theatre, so most of the things we did were classical - Shakespeare, Moliere, and Chekhov.
I come from a traditional theater background.
When talking about writing, I often use the analogy of archaeology. There are these great tunes all around. Your skill as a musician allows you to pick them out without breaking them.
I am a classical music lover - not necessarily the contemporary stuff, but the old stuff.
My favourite finds are often antique pieces with a history.
We use a lot of source music on some shows and none on others.
My operas usually come from musical ideas rather than ideas about subject matter.
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