Sigma Alpha Iota

Music Notes National Arts Associate Performs in World Premiere Opera By Barbara J. Craig, Northwest Ohio Alumnae Chapter other Toledo musicians and friends. He was more than appreciative of the bouquet! Calling the chapter from Spain, Easterlin said he was "overwhelmed" to find this "spectacular, stunning floral arrangement" in his dressing room. "It was a major point of this major night for me," he said. He also noted everyone in the cast came to look at the flowers, and remarked about them, including the opera General Director who said, "these are flowers for a star!'  "Thank you very, very much," Easterlin said. "They're extraordinary!  I love the arrangement!' John was Initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Northwest Ohio Alumnae Chapter on May 31, 2008. His initiation and biographical data appears in the Spring 2009 issue of PAN PIPES. Fine reviews of the opening night appeared in the February 2 edition of The New York Times, the February 4 edition of TIME Magazine, and the April issue of Opera News.  All referenced the visionary comparisons of Disney and Warhol in the rise of popular culture in the U.S. during the 20th century through "illusions to reality" and the unique art style created by Warhol, some of which was involved in the opera. The Perfect American was coproduced by Teatro Real and the English National Opera, where it will have nine London performances in June. Also at opening night was the director of the Brisbaine, Australia opera who is interested in bringing the opera there and had already contacted John's manager. Barbara Craig is a charter member of Gamma Omicron at Bowling Green State University where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. She is also a charter member of the Northwest Ohio Alumnae Chapter. Barbara and John Easterlin met in 2005 when he debuted with the Toledo Opera. With various aspects of common interests besides music, Barbara is John's "other mother."    I nternational opera tenor and SAI National Arts Associate John Easterlin performed the role of Andy Warhol in the World Premiere of The Perfect American by Philip Glass on January 22, 2013 at Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain. The opera is based on the 2001 novel by Peter Stephen Jungk of the later life of Walt Disney. It was commissioned by Gerard Mortier, artistic general director of Teatro Real.  Mortier had worked previously with Easterlin at the Paris opera, and evidently Glass was familiar with his vocal and interpretive skills. Easterlin was asked to originate the Warhol role which was written to suit his vocal range and strengths. Warhol arrives in Act II to define Americana and Disney's influence on American culture. During rehearsals, Glass, his musical team, and Maestro Dennis Russell Davies were highly impressed and positive in their praise and support of how John sang the role and Glass's music. Prior to rehearsals, John did a tremendous amount of research and preparation to understand and portray the iconic Warhol. He read seven books -- four written by Warhol himself -- watched documentary films of him, and interviewed three people who knew him well. He also studied hundreds of photos and video of Warhol to capture how he walked and moved, even pointed, for it was critical to John to truly capture Warhol in the role so the audience would immediately be seeing "him." And that had its effect, for on opening night and the following seven performances through February 6, the audience always gasped and cheered when "Andy" came on stage. The day of opening night, five large banner pictures were hung in front of Teatro Real. One was of John in his purple velvet Andy Warhol suit. The pre-show transformation into Warhol takes nearly two hours. When John arrived in his dressing room for opening night, he was surprised to find a large floral arrangement from members of the Northwest Ohio Alumnae Chapter of SAI and 6 PAN PIPESSPRING 2013 sai-national.org At top, John Easterlin as Andy Warhol with his opening-night bouquet sent on behalf of SAI. Above, the poster for A Perfect American. CLICK FOR MORE To learn more about John Easterlin, visit johneasterlin.com

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