Ellen Denham will be giving a presentation at TEXOMA NATS later this week. 

This lecture-demonstration explores improvisation in contemporary opera, discussing current opera creators using improvisation and methods and parameters used, with video examples.  Methods discussed include those taught by Ann Baltz in her OperaWorks training programs, improv comedy techniques, devised theatre techniques, and harmonic methods.  The presentation includes a video demonstration of the author’s work using some of these methods in examples from a short opera with an improvised score.  The author argues that improvisation is not only an important educational tool but a valid means to create innovative operatic performances.  The audience will be asked to participate in different improvisation techniques.

Click here for more information.