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October 17, 2003/Tishri 21 5764, Vol. 56, No. 4
AZ Opera hires new talent
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
Arizona Opera has kicked off its 2003-2004 season under the direction of a new artistic director. Joel Revzen, formerly the artistic director and conductor for The Berkshire Opera in Massachusetts and the founder of the St. Louis Conservatory, took over the position in September.
"(This position) is basically everything but the kitchen sink," says Revzen. "It's really a synthesis of all the things I have already done, primarily as a conductor and as an artistic director."
Although the organization's 2003-2004 season was in place long before Revzen arrived in the Valley, he is using the upcoming season as an opportunity to "develop an assessment of where we are, which will enable me to develop a vision for where we want to be."
His responsibilities will include coordinating aspects of the organization, from marketing and development to public relations. However, he also plans to conduct three out of five productions planned for the 2004-2005 season - something that has not been done by an Arizona Opera artistic director before.
"The Opera has decided to go with a different model of a live, breathing, performing musician as artistic director," he says. "They haven't ever had that in their history."
Conducting is Revzen's passion, he explains. In fact, he has a bachelor's and master's degree in conducting from The Juilliard School and is a member of the conducting staff of the Metropolitan Opera. He will spend a few weeks in December and January conducting a production for the Metropolitan Opera and six weeks in July and August conducting for The Berkshire Opera.
"I'll be in Phoenix and Tucson eight and a half months out of the year," he explains.
Revzen realized his love for music at the age of 5, when he began learning to play the piano. His passion for conducting, however, did not take long to surface.
"I never wanted to be a pianist," he says. "I always wanted to be a conductor. When I was a youngster, my parents were very practical. I used to have a box of 12 crayons, just the basic colors. I used to envy the students who had a box of 36 because they could paint in so many more subtle colors. That's why I love conducting. It allows me to involve myself not only with all the colors of the orchestra ... but you can add voice to expand the color palette even more."
By the time Revzen reached high school, he was conducting professional choirs during the High Holidays in his hometown of Chicago.
"At that time, the choirs were in traditional shuls where the men stood around the bimah and there was no instrumental accompaniment," he recalls. "I would have to give them the pitches and they would sing ... and be the supportive choir to help inspire the cantor."
At 16, Revzen was accepted into the Chicago Symphony Chorus, becoming the youngest member ever accepted.
After graduating high school, Revzen attended the University of Illinois for one year as a psychology major.
"After my first year of college, I realized I couldn't dabble in music," he says. "I had to really take it seriously or give it up completely."
After reaching the life-changing decision, Revzen returned to Chicago to continue study with the Chicago Symphony Chorus. His mentors encouraged him to go one step further - go to New York to be part of a symposium.
"I needed a school to go to (when I was in New York)," he says. "So, I auditioned at Juilliard about two weeks before school started. Luckily, I was accepted."
Revzen went on to form the St. Louis Conservatory in the 1970s and worked as an administrator there until 1984.
Throughout his career, Revzen has managed to continue conducting while expanding his knowledge about behind-the-scenes marketing, public relations and planning. While in Phoenix, he hopes to attract larger audiences to Arizona Opera's productions.
"I hope to be turning lots of new people on to this art for which I have a strong passion for," he says. "Opera brings all of the arts together under one roof. If you want theater, it's there; music, it's there; dance, it's there. I hope the audience will find that we're going to do lots of new and interesting repertoire at the very highest artistic level."
Arizona Opera's 2003-2004 season, which began this month, includes productions of "The Pearl Fishers," "The Mikado," "Don Pasquale," "Sweeny Todd," and "La Boheme."
Call 602-266-7464 for tickets.
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