Arts and Audiences grant to fund production of Spanish opera

For the second consecutive year, the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle has been rewarded for its artistic excellence.

The orchestra recently received an Arts and Audiences grant for $10,000 from the North Carolina Arts Council because of their plan to grow their followers.

“The Arts and Audiences grant is really intended for organizations to reach out and facilitate some new audience development,” said Rebecca Moore, the council’s senior program director for marketing.
She also said the panel that evaluates the grant proposals favors projects that will expand the Triangle’s arts scene.

“They want to know how the projects are going to connect to the community, and how they’re going to increase audiences,” she said.

The orchestra’s grant proposal showed an intent to expand their audience to the Triangle’s Latino population, said David Lindquist, chairman of the orchestra’s board of directors.

“We’re making a major effort, and we’ve secured the backing of a lot of the Latino organizations in the Triangle,” he said.

In addition to their plans for community outreach, applications for the Arts and Audiences grant are evaluated based on artistic merit.
Andrea Lawson, performing arts director for the N.C. Arts Council, also runs the panel that evaluates the grant proposals.

“We look for projects that will somehow give the audience a deeper experience or connection,” she said.

Lawson also said that the orchestra represents a high level of artistic talent.

“Their conductor, Lorenzo Muti, brings out this beautiful sound in his musicians,” she said. “He’s curated a great group.”

The grant will primarily help fund the orchestra’s season-ending Spanish opera.

The opera’s centerpiece is called “El retablo de maese Pedro” — in English, “Master Peter’s Puppet Show.”

Paperhand Puppet Intervention will collaborate with the orchestra on the opera.

Lindquist said the opera will feature a variety of talents.

“It’s going to involve puppetry, and it’s going to involve a young soloist ­— a child soprano fluent in Spanish,” he said.

Though the opera will be performed in Spanish, translations will be provided for the audience.

Lindquist said he wants the opera to be accessible so that all kinds of people can enjoy it.

“We’re working hard to get the word out that this is being done,” she said.

“We especially want young families to be aware of this.”

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at arts@dailytarheel.com.