As I mentioned last week I made the trip this weekend to see Opera Theater Oregon's production of The Medium by Gian-Carlo Mennotti. I had called Elizabeth in advance and asked her if you would care to go with me. "Is it that group we saw in the bar?" she asked and when I confirmed that she was most excited . "I don't even need to know what the show is. If it's them I am so there!" I must say that is rather how I feel about OTO and it was most gratifying that E feels similarly. Furthermore, it speaks well of the company doesn't it? I mean, can there be a higher accolade than being prepared to attend entirely on the strength of the name of the outfit doing the show?

And so we went. Unfortunately I was feeling somewhat under-the weather (an early Winter cold, I think) and so not my normally perky self but I am very happy I went. Outside of Portland Opera there is no performing arts organisation in Portland I am more delighted to support.

When The Met began their saturday morning HD transmissions to movie theaters I was asked many times (and the question still pops up quite regularly) what effect I thought these performances would have on live opera performed by regional opera companies. My answer then was that they would have little to no effect on attendance at opera houses. I remain of that view. The Met, whether they like it or not, are preaching to the choir. The audience that I see at the Lloyd Center movie theater on a saturday morning is almost entirely composed of older, well-heeled patrons who already have their tickets to Portland Opera. There are few youngsters.

And here's why I believe OTO performs such a valuable service to art-loving Portlanders. In every aspect of their productions OTO make opera 'not scary'. I thought Elizabeth put it just right when she said they give the lie to the perception that opera is 'just for boring old rich people'. They achieve this in a number of ways. Right off the bat it's hard not to feel relaxed and in party-mode at their venue, the Someday Lounge. Performing opera in a bar is a splendid concept if you wish to appeal to a demographic different from that which fills the seats at the Keller. The venue is just the right size - intimate without being cramped and the staff are friendly and helpful. The acoustics are not bad and the seating perfectly adequate.

As to the productions themselves OTO put on interesting works in a fresh way without a hint of dumbing-down or condescension. I can't say that The Medium is ever going to make the list of my favourite operas but I had never seen it before and it's a curious, interesting work. The vocal standard was high and the piano accompaniment quite extraordinarily spot-on. I would guess that the average age of those attending was 15-20 years younger than the Met movie crowd and clearly had a very good time. So, while I have a hard time imagining people coming out of a Met movie and saying "That was great. Let's go see a live performance at a real opera house" I should not be one bit surprised if members of an OTO audience find themselves attracted to the art form to the point of attending a more traditional performance in a regular venue. We need more of that sort of thing I am sure you will agree.

By the way, I had to smile to myself at the apparent irony of the younger crowd watching opera while sipping Cosmos and nibbling sophisticated bar snacks while the Met movie crowd does popcorn and coffee.

So bravo, OTO, and thank you. You perform a great service for all of us who love opera and just wish more people could experience what fun it can be.

FInally, a short personal note. Saturday November 1 marks the beginning of National Novel-Writing Month. The object is to write a complete novel of not less than 50.000 words in one month. I am thinking of doing it this year and should be happy to hear from any of you who are similarly inclined or who have done it before.

Have a good week.