Schnell is an understatement

The wonderful production director at Minnesota Opera told me on day 2 that I would look around about 3 months in and wonder what in the world had just happened and how we could possibly already be so far into the season.

It turns out that I started that process a little earlier than expected. In the last 50 days, we have started rehearsal, survived tech, opened, and closed Ariadne auf Naxos. Whirlwind doesn't even begin to describe it. Nor does educational, stunning, incredible, or unbelievable. To say I enjoyed my first professional opera is an extreme understatement. 

And yet, we closed Sunday, part of our next cast arrived Monday, and a few hours ago we began rehearsal for The Magic Flute. Today, I found myself standing 20 feet in the air cueing artists to be flipped through doorways on the second story of a gigantic wall onto which was being projected beautiful animations. And all I could do was shake my head. 

I'm not sure how we're here already. I have no idea how I'm fortunate enough to be working on this show I've admired from afar. I don't understand how I've lucked out with such a fantastic company. But I do know I am so very grateful, and can't wait for the next part of this new adventure.