Jake Heggie has a whale of a hit with 'Moby-Dick'

DALLAS —

Ben Heppner limped around theatre upon his brace leg, blood dripping from his face. The good white whale was in his Captain Ahab's sight.

The captain never kills a object of his harsh pursuit. Composer Jake Heggie, however, achieved his idea Friday night, with an achingly beautiful, distinctively sung as well as gorgeously staged universe premiere of his "Moby-Dick," a prominence of a Dallas Opera's initial season during a stimulating brand new Winspear Opera House. The audience responded with an eight-minute station ovation.

Just 49, Heggie has turn a single of a pre-eminent contemporary opera composers. His "Dead Man Walking," formed upon Sister Helen Prejean's book, premiered during a San Francisco Opera in 2000 as well as is among a most successful operas premiered since a genocide of Benjamin Britten in 1976.

"Moby-Dick," formed upon Herman Melville's 1851 novel, is an additional triumph, a nautical excursion that brings to mind Britten's "Billy Budd" (also formed upon a Melville work) as well as tools of a initial hour of Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde." The 90-minute opening act zips along, as well as a 65-minute closing act is ruminative as well as moving.

Heggie is a rarity, an permitted composer whose melodic lines as well as clarity of drama have been aimed during audiences rsther than than academics. With librettist Gene Scheer, who took over after Terrence McNally became sick with lung cancer, he has remade Melville's sprawling novel in to an active theatre work. They allot with a opening 100 or so pages set in New England, as well as a opera begins a week after a Pequod has set to sea.

Scheer simplified Melville's extensive language while gripping a communication of an mostly metaphorical narrative. There is an sea of shimmering sea music, a spraying wall of choral receptive to advice (prepared by Alexander Rom) as well as relocating arias for Ahab, Greenhorn (tenor Stephen Costello) as well as Starbuck (baritone Morgan Smith). The tattooed Poly! nesian h arpooner Queequeg (bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu) adds his own brand of outlandish song as well as lyrics as well as a only lady in a cast, soprano Talise Trevigne in a trousers role of Pip, injects liughtness as well as energy.

Heppner, of course, is a star. The song is written to fit his voice, largely avoiding sharply descending scales that during times have caused him worry in alternative roles. He sneers, puffs as well as pontificates, his tenor roving over waves of sound. Limping upon a brace leg that replaces a strength torn away in an earlier clash with a good whale, his Ahab is each bit tragic as Lohengrin, Tristan, Otello as well as Ghermann, a little of a roles that done him famous.

Leonard Foglia's pointy citation as well as huge nautical sets by Robert Brill were as most a star as a cast. Elaine McCarthy's projections, that deftly shifted angles, combined with Donald Holder's vivid lighting to show how record can support rsther than than detract. Jane Greenwood's costumes could outfit a genuine vessel. Choreographer Keturah Stickann as well as quarrel choreographer Bill Lengfelder combined a spacious night.

Patrick Summers, song director of a Houston Grand Opera, conducted with such discernment in to a ebbs as well as flows it seemed he had been study this measure for distant longer than it has existed.

There have been five more performances by May 16. 'Moby-Dick' is a co-commission with a State Opera of South Australia, where it is to open in September 2011, as well as 3 theaters where it is to crop up a following year: a Calgary Opera (winter 2012), San Diego Opera (February 2012) as well as San Francisco Opera (with Heppner as well as Summers in autumn 2012). These companies have themselves a whale of hit, a leaner but true reinterpretation of an American classic.

---

On a Net:

http://www.dallasopera.org

-Source-

3 arrests in death of magician from 'Tonight Show'

ANAHEIM, Calif. —

Police have arrested 3 people upon suspicion of murdering the immature wizard known as "El Magnifico" who has achieved upon "The Tonight Show."

Anaheim Police announced the arrests Friday, dual days after 19-year-old Adrian Ramos was gunned down during the spoliation try whilst walking home from the category during Fullerton College.

Ramos, who called himself "El Magnifico," achieved during gift events, during Hollywood's Magic Castle as well as had additionally done the number of TV appearances, including alongside Jay Leno upon "The Tonight Show."

Police say 20-year-old Aquiles Sanchez, 20-year-old Edgar Raul Salgado as well as the 15-year-old are being hold upon suspicion of homicide.

---

Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com

-Source-

An evening with two familiar voices: Rosanne Cash and NPR's Michele Norris

The evening of conversation, reminiscence as well as strain with Rosanne Cash during the Moore Theatre Saturday night won't just be the chattier version of the usual one-off concert.

It is also partial of the world-domination tract by National Public Radio.

Just kidding. But NPR is in truth presenting the show. And one of its best-known headlines anchors, Michele Norris, will be pity the theatre with Cash, the Nashville-based, Grammy-honored singer-songwriter, whose father was the late troubadour Johnny Cash.

This special "NPR upon Location" eventuality will also be taped for the one-hour promote special upon NPR part of stations nationwide, commencement Wednesday (air dates as well as times will change by market). And it will be accessible giveaway online during NPR Music (www.npr.org/music).

Cash's winning latest disc, "The List," will positively be the subject of discussion between her as well as Norris during the concert-klatch.

And she will likely sing some of the timeless tunes collected for "The List" — such as "Miss the Mississippi as well as You," "Sea of Heartbreak" (recorded as the duet with Bruce Springsteen), Bob Dylan's "Girl from the North Country," the folkie fave "500 Miles."

All were upon the list of tunes Johnny Cash drew up for his eldest daughter when she was the teenager. He called it "100 Essential Country Songs" — but, she writes in the disc's program notes, "he could have called it '100 Essential American Songs,' because he included history songs, criticism songs, early folk songs, Delta blues, gospel, Texas swing" as well as more.

Though Cash was not accessible for comment, Norris spoke enthusiastically about the eventuality by phone from NPR domicile in Washington. D.C., where she co-hosts the network's sacred every night headlines program, "All Things Considered."

"This is something some-more as well as some-more headlines organizations have been doing, events where we entice an assembly to come suffer an interview! format that's roughly similar to the salon," Norris explained.

"There will be songs, we'll take questions from the audience. Rosanne will speak about her new memoir, 'Composed.' She's an extraordinary singer, the pleasing writer. She's the daughter as well as stepdaughter of dual strong women [Vivian Liberto as well as June Carter Cash]. And she's really much the musical anthropologist, who understands the denunciation of music, as well as how it fits into the larger informative narrative."

Communing with musicians (as well as politicians, writers, as well as alternative scene makers) is something Norris obviously enjoys about her NPR post.

She began her career as the imitation publisher during The Washington Post as well as alternative newspapers, then outlayed 8 years working for ABC News.

"I was regularly the stone-cold air wave fanatic though," she says. "I was lifted in Minneapolis by dual air wave fans, as well as we was forced to listen — as my dual young kids have been now!"

When she got the call about the radio-hosting job, Norris noted, "It was the small similar to removing the call from the major leagues! we had such bend for NPR ... It was the universe of yes, where we could do all kinds of things. As an interviewer it was the place where we could get to the sixth as well as seventh subject with the subject — which we generally were not able to do in television."

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com

-Source-

Catherine Bach's husband dies in apparent suicide

LOS ANGELES —

A successful party profession who was tied together to thespian Catherine Bach was found passed in an strong self-murder Friday, coroners officials said.

Peter Lopez, 60, died of a gunshot wound during his home in a Encino Hills, coroner's bureau operations chief Craig Harvey said.

A neighbor reported conference a shot as well as someone during a home found Lopez's body, coroners officials said.

Bach as well as her two daughters suffered a "tragic personal loss," pronounced her publicist, Steve Rohr.

Bach played Daisy Duke in a 1980s TV array "The Dukes of Hazzard."

Lopez was Michael Jackson's song profession for several years, according to Alfred Newman, a orator for a firm Lopez helped found, Kleinberg Lopez Lange Cuddy & Klein. He additionally represented The Eagles, Andrea Bocelli as well as Michael Buble.

"We have been deeply repelled as well as saddened by a unexpected detriment of our friend as well as partner," a firm pronounced in a statement.

Lopez worked with singers, jot down producers as well as songwriters as well as was a co-producer of a Jennifer Lopez film "Selena," a biopic about a beloved Tejano thespian who was killed by a boss of her fan club.

Raymone Bain, Michael Jackson's former ubiquitous manager, pronounced she hired Peter Lopez in 2006 as Jackson's party profession when she was reorganizing a singer's commercial operation affairs.

"I'd known Peter for 20 years," she said. When she was searching for a new authorised group she pronounced an additional of her clients, R&B thespian Babyface, endorsed Lopez.

"I can't consider of a nicer individual," she said. "He was a good guy. I'm only so shocked."

She pronounced Lopez trafficked with her as well as Jackson to London for a World Music Awards as well as spoke to a thespian quite often.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger app! ointed L opez to a California State Athletic Commission, which regulates boxing, as well as as a director of a California Exposition as well as State Fair Board.

Lopez attended UCLA Law School.

---

Associated Press Writer Anthony McCartney as well as Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.

-Source-

Catherine Bach's husband dies in apparent suicide

LOS ANGELES —

A successful entertainment profession who was married to thespian Catherine Bach was found passed in an strong suicide Friday, coroners officials said.

Peter Lopez, 60, died of a gunshot wound during his home in a Encino Hills, coroner's office operations chief Craig Harvey said.

A neighbor reported hearing a shot as well as someone during a home found Lopez's body, coroners officials said.

Bach as well as her dual daughters suffered a "tragic personal loss," pronounced her publicist, Steve Rohr.

Bach played Daisy Duke in a 1980s TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard."

Lopez was Michael Jackson's song profession for several years, according to Alfred Newman, a orator for a organisation Lopez helped found, Kleinberg Lopez Lange Cuddy & Klein. He also represented The Eagles, Andrea Bocelli as well as Michael Buble.

"We are deeply repelled as well as saddened by a astonishing loss of a friend as well as partner," a organisation pronounced in a statement.

Lopez worked with singers, jot down producers as well as songwriters as well as was a co-producer of a Jennifer Lopez movie "Selena," a biopic about a dear Tejano thespian who was killed by a boss of her air blower club.

Raymone Bain, Michael Jackson's former ubiquitous manager, pronounced she hired Peter Lopez in 2006 as Jackson's entertainment profession when she was reorganizing a singer's business affairs.

"I'd known Peter for 20 years," she said. When she was searching for a new legal group she pronounced an additional of her clients, R&B thespian Babyface, recommended Lopez.

"I can't consider of a nicer individual," she said. "He was a great guy. I'm just so shocked."

She pronounced Lopez trafficked with her as well as Jackson to London for a World Music Awards as well as spoke to a thespian quite often.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger allocated ! Lopez to a California State Athletic Commission, that regulates boxing, as well as as a director of a California Exposition as well as State Fair Board.

Lopez attended UCLA Law School.

---

Associated Press Writer Anthony McCartney as well as Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.

-Source-

'Sesame Street Live' comes to Everett, Tacoma

'Sesame Street Live — 1-2-3 Imagine!'

In this live theatre instrumentation of the long-running PBS staple, Elmo as well as his friends (including Big Bird) make use of their imaginations to revisit sparkling lost locations, together with the tall seas as well as an African rain forest. Performances during dual locations: 7 p.m. Tuesday as well as 10:30 a.m. as well as 7 p.m. Wednesday during Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. D St., Tacoma, $11-$29 (800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com); as well as 10:30 a.m. as well as 7 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. as well as 2 p.m. Saturday as well as 2 p.m. Sunday during Comcast Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave. Everett, $11-$29 (800-332-8499 or www.comcastarenaeverett.com).

Doug Knoop, Seattle Times staff

-Source-

Prince Harry passes British army pilot's course

LONDON —

Just call him Your Royal Fly-ness: Prince Harry has successfully finished a march to fly British armed forces helicopters.

A statement from his London bureau Friday said a king upheld his final tests progressing this week - as well as will get his wings May 7 from his father, Prince Charles.

Prince Harry, who is third in line to a British throne as well as is well known in a military as Lt. Harry Wales, will learn afterwards either he will fly Lynx or Apache helicopters for a Army Air Corps.

Flying is in this family's royal blood: Harry's older brother, William, is guidance to fly search-and-rescue choppers. Charles competent as a helicopter commander in 1974, as well as their uncle, Prince Andrew, flew a Royal Navy helicopter during a Falklands War.

-Source-