Mr. HOPERA

Mr. HOPERA
HoperaWorld Productions/

Friday, January 22, 2010

MR. HOPERA SINGS-Video Blog

MR HOPERA TV

Check out MR. HOPERA singing Why Do the Nations from Messiah. Happy Friday! Be Encouraged ALL!



TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

MY DAY

So today I got up and when to the bank and took care of some things and set up some new accounts.

Then I had lunch by my lonesome

Then I when to go teach my 8th graders (Felt good)

Then I went Downtown and Met with a former cast member to handle some business.

Ate dinner at Patty Burger (If you dont know Patty burger at Wabash and Adams GET TO KNOW THEM) amazing.

Conference all presentation while at starbucks.

Brainstormed some new Ideas.

Brainstormed some new marketing plans for the FEB. 19TH RECITAL IN CLEVELAND OHIO AT 7:00P.M. (call 4 details!)

Came home.

Edited some footage of me singing.

Posted a new video of me singing.

AMEN!

Thats my day I hope you had a great one!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Standing on the Promises

Ok, So I messed up this time. Yes, I dropped the ball. But when you drop the ball you have to pick it up and RUN with it. Don't just stand there but you have to run with the ball. I want you know that today in all of sadness about my "Dropping the Ball" I did at the end of the day decide to run with the ball.

HOPERA is a wonderful company of some of the most talented people I have ever met in my life or had the honor of meeting. Today looking at the new things that there are to accomplish I realized that finding new talent is always apart of this business. You must always stay up on your P's and Q's when looking for new talent.

I am a little nervous about this new show that we are going to put up because I don't really know if people will like it and it is made more so for the masses and less for the intellectual theater goer. I wonder how it will play out...but I am standing on the promises. I know that if I hang on it will all work out just right, STANDING ON THE PROMISES!

MR. HOPERA

Monday, January 18, 2010

A New Day pt. 1

So on this great day of celebration I just wanted to stop by early to say thank you to MLK. Because he changed not only this country but he changed this world and for that I am truly grateful. He changed me. And for that I am forever grateful. When I think of hope courage, honesty, and integrity, I think of him. When I think of a real man, who had real issues, short comings, deficiencies that are humanities ills, I also think of him. But I think of him for everything he has done...THANK YOU is all that comes to mind!

HOLD YOUR DREAM!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Appreciation

So every once in a while it feels good to be a appreciated for what you do. Even if you think that there is no real substance behind it, just the thought that someone was thinking about you or what you do enough to acknowledge you for something is awesome.

I am feeling really AWESOME today when I got my commendation letter from the Cleveland Orchestra for the Martin Luther King award. I was not chosen but was nominated and that was great, I think for a 24 year old producer doing some very innovative things in a very conservative field of think and pervasive ignorance reins. I am happy about that. So with that I leave you with the Cleveland Orchestra & Choruses Beethoven Choral Fantasy. Take the time if you are in cleveland to check out the MLK Concert Sunday, I am sure it will be wonderful.

MR. HOPERA

Thursday, January 14, 2010

HAITI & Hopera

So as the horrible pics of mangled bodies come in from media outlets all over the world I encourage every single artist out there to remember the true and real meaning of your gift God has given you.

We as artists are power and CAN make a difference and help this hard healing process begin. Later this week I will be posted my song. I would encourage you all to do a concert or write or play something that helps people to heal. The arts have been a healing force for such a long time and in this very great time of need we all need a little more music, dance, theater in out life.

HopearWorld Productions will be doing something, I have not figured it out yet but we will be contributing to the healing process here at home. We all can pitch in, LETS GO AMERICA! Lets represent for these black folks, we are the same as they are at this moment, lets connect to our true humanity.

This is my story. This is my song. This is my world. HoperaWorld.

MR. HOPERA

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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Grace

So the phrase growing up that I would hear all the time "Oh for grace". I didn't really get it and to a certain degree I don't now but that is not the point..lol.

Grace is shown everyday and every hour. We show "Grace" to our lovers, friends, colleagues etc. Grace that is constantly being challenged and looked at. What I have found is I don't don't exercise enough grace in my day to day dealing with people. I need to exercise more grace in life period.

What does this have to do with being a producer? Well, grace is what is important in life to keep your sanity and ti remember that others are just as full of fault as you are...

oh for grace!

MR. HOPERA

Monday, January 11, 2010

Cleveland Recital...

So I am getting ready to sing back in my home town pretty soon I hope and I am actually kinda excited about it this time! I am going to be doing a whole new set of songs from me from new project called: "Introducing Adrian Dunn. The Voice.". So I am doing spirituals, hymns, a few german songs, and some gospel songs that have been my favorites for some time now. Primaryly songs that black singers have performed and composed.

There is something about excitement that is important to keeping your life moving and not dying. It is so crucial that you have a balance of things that make you happy. You can't solely do the things that make you money all the time because what makes you money isn't always what is gratifying to you. When you get bad news and take 3 or 4 blows at one time it is really hard to see the bigger picture and to see that you are not a loser...lol. I laugh but seriously it is really easy to begin believing bad hype about yourself because 3 or 4 things fall through or don't go in your favor. It is not so though. Keep ya head up! You loss the battle but not the war!

Trying to capture my excitement! Cleveland get ready for a great concert.

This is my story. This is my song. This is my world. HoperaWorld.

MR. HOPERA

* A little video of how we used to have fun in the old dayz back at CHHS!*** tomorrow I will have one of the songs from the project**

Sunday, January 10, 2010

OTHELLO--AVE Maria

Ave Maria From Verdi's Othello




Can Opera be popular again? I wonder as I listen to the very aria that inspired me to right HOPERA a Fallen Hero (A hip hop opera based off of this Tragedy)

Ms. Price sangs that hell out of this thang but there is much to still be said about the relevance of this form in new century. We are only 10 years in and there are less and less opera houses..but do less opera houses mean less opera? or does it mean that there is less opera being sung in opera house? I think that is a great thing. Let me know your thoughts.

Happy sunday all.

MR. HOPERA

Saturday, January 9, 2010

WHAT DO YOU WANT??

So what do the people and fans of HOPERA really want to see? What do people wanna see in a new fresh entertainment company? What would be the best NEW Hip Hopera experience?

Ok, So in producer world I talked with some potential event planners for the new HOPERA show spectacular. FInding the right fit for a show is so crucial. I am so looking forward this new show concept. This is definitely a show for an young adult crowd so I definitely gotta find a Chicago event planner who understand Chicago, Young Professional audiences, and great venues. Also understands working with a professional company of Musicians and concert. And also understand legistics of a wonderfully entertaining show that doesn't have a lot of precedence...whew. Thats about it! lol.

For my HOPERA FANS out there what would you all like to see next from the company? I am just curious..SOUND OFF!!!

MR. HOPERA


Friday, January 8, 2010

I Bear No Grudge

So I bare no grudge. This is a principle of Christ that I think has the power to really change us as producers. I bear no grudge or in our modern culture what we refer to more commonly as "Forgiveness". Many artists have talked about it but very few of us really practice it.

I now see that when you produce a show, event, concert, or a story there innately must be some level of forgiveness. Just follow me here. When you write a piece you must come to a place of complete forgiveness of self, the people around you, the world that you are about to present the work to.

Much of my personal work with HOPERA is real stories about real people. It is not fiction ( Like traditional opera) so there is resentment, hurt, love, loss, sex, pain, angst, and finally atonement in HOPERA. When you put all of that on stage with you name attached to it and your heart attached to it you must bear no grudge in the outcome, the process, & have a peace about it. The outcome will be what it will be. It will never be able to change the events that happened. You must produce new work in the right spirit and with a health vision.

The new HOPERA show showcases real life experiences form a much more creative and light hearted place, however there is still much that I am not ok with but day by day I learn the power of forgiveness. I am not the one to forgive easily but more and more I see how horrible,impatient, and countless mistakes I realize that as a producer of HOPERA there is no room to bear anything but greatness. I share with you my version (Adrian Anthony) of Ich Grolle Nicht, I BEAR NO GRUDGE.

This is my story. This is my Song, This is my World. HoperaWorld.

MR. HOPERA

**PLZ Leave me Comments********

I bear no grudge, even when my heart is breaking!

Love lost forever! I bear no grudge.
Although you shine in diamond splendor,
No beam falls into the night of your heart.
I will know that for a long time.

I bear no grudge, and when my heart is breaking!
I truly saw you in my dreams
And saw the night in the room of your heart,
And saw the snake that bites your heart;
I saw, my dear, how truly miserable you are.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

BOTH sides NOW!

Words have so much power for us as producers. It is what made me want to put my show on Brpadway. My FIRST early morning blog. This is what I have to share today a song that changed me and the way I look at producing and composing words for singers. Helps me to look at the whole situation and still have the understanding that there are things that you will NOT ever know and that is ok. My favorite opera singer in the whole wide world. She does it in somewhat of a Hopera style. Ms. Measha Bruggergosman, soprano. I hope it changes you as well.

MR. HOPERA --one step closer to broadway..




Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere, i've looked at cloud that way.
But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.
So many things i would have done but clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions i recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

Moons and junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real; i've looked at love that way.
But now it's just another show. you leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know, don't give yourself away.

I've looked at love from both sides now,
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions i recall.
I really don't know love at all.



MR HOPERA

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

TRUE LOVE

At this dinner I realized that work is so integrated into who we are and if we are not happy at work, many times we are not happy at all. I am posting this article to see if people who love people can really support what these american ministers have done. If you can, Do you know what true love is?

What does this have to do with being a producer?...Glad you asked.

We as producers must continue to look at world events. It is not enough for us just to take a side and not really know why. Our happiness as people is a combinations of many things including our passion, work, desire, and honest love.

We must keep in mind that we must stay in touch with the heart of WORLD around us not just what's in our back yard. It is important that we continue to produce work that remains relevant to the world around us, for the truth is what will transform a generation.

MR. HOPERA

READ IT!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Does SEX SELL in Entertainment?

So today I had a productive day. It is not over. If you don't know me, Adrian Anthony (my alter ego) Does not sleep. So today I began having meeting for the new project I am launching here at HoperaWorld Productions that I know is going to be so hot. It is really going to turn some heads this time around. So I had my first meeting with potential team members today.

A big conversation professionally for me lately has been the topic of sex. Sex is something that we say "Sells" but I would venture to say it is something about the illusion that sells. There is something in our humanity that desires illusion. Things that we can't have. There are many examples of this and institutions that "SELL" illusion and have nothing to do with sex!. Sex doesn't sell ladies and gents. I would say the illusion sells. The suspended reality that we enter into in numerous places most commonly known as movies, theater, video games, concerts, university, etc.

There is nothing wrong with sex. Yes I said it. When we go to a show and see things that are apart of our humanity no matter how much we try to hide we are drawn to it. It is apart of our humanity and should be looked at from a powerful (positive) place and not a negative place. This will in turn allow people to deal with critical matters of dangerous sexual behaviors and make better choices. There is nothing wrong with expressing your sexuality. There is something wrong with the culture around us that forces people to hide who they are. Therefore, it (the dominant culture) is responsible for encouraging people to make perpetual unhealthy choices. As a producer I think it is important that we continue to tackle this issues that the world refuses to deal with. Maybe its time for a more healthy conversation about sex america. One that has people not living in the shaddows of guilt and shame, but to be powerful.

So as a Producer of new innovative work, these are conversations that never go away. We are constantly challenged by our audiences to deliver what they want not what they need. We play a very important role in this world. Never negate your power as a producer. Whether it is one person at your shows or 1 million, you have to be responsible for what you put up on stage. We as artists/producers must keep the truth in the work as the TRUTH will deliver and transform people. We must keep the truth in what we produce while still keeping it tasteful and appealing to a large audience. Quite the challenge. Let stop talking about Sex and begin talking about our humanity to make the world a better place. God gave us the power. Lets use it.

This is my Story. This is my song. This is my world. THIS IS MY HOPERA WORLD.

MR. HOPERA

Let me know your thoughts leave me comments.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Nothing major

MONDAY!

So today has been cool. Somewhat productive, Here we go, my day in a flash:

Made some payments earlier today to some HOPERA artists.

Got dressed and went to an interview wit a potential client.

Got the Job.

Came home and began marketing more services and confirming appointments for this upcoming week. (I am also a voice teach if you all don't know)

Finished tax paperwork for education position.

Cooked grits and fish and bacon and toast.

Checked tons of emails.

Going to take the boo to the airport.

Deposit funds in the bank.

Try to keep smiling inspite of it all?

MY MONDAY LADIES AND GENTS!

MR. HOPERA

Sunday, January 3, 2010

The Book of DUNN

So today I am sitting here listening to the dynamic Operatic tenor Lawerence Brownlee Sing the hell out of this aria. I am so happy to see people of color in this business (opera) still surviving as there seem to be less and less faces around these days. I have followed Mr. Brownlee for a long time and as I look at his new videos and music I realize more and more that we all must walk in our calling.

So my brief sermon today is taken from the book of DUNN (lol). So knowing your calling I am finding is something that most people honestly don't know and won't know for a while so If you are one of those people who have been blessed to know your purpose or calling before you were 50 feel it a blessing and responsibility to fulfill everything that you have been called to. Producers must be visionaries even when it is not popular so keep in mind that you calling will not come with out challenge but there is always provision for you vision. THANK GOD for that! HOLD you dream don't ever let it go! I leave you with this, HOLD YOU DREAM from FAME. Have a happy sunday ladies and gents!

MR. HOPERA

Saturday, January 2, 2010

HARD WORK?? who does that anymore?

DAY 2 of the year the word is HARD WORK!

It takes another level of work to accomplish what most of us actually want out of our productions. Many of us want things that we are not will to work for or be committed to to the level that we would like to see results in. This is something that is really crucial in producing. So often we want everything to ourselves and don't want to make the sacrifice for the greater good of your venture or project.

Here we find that no matter how much work you give sometimes you have to give a little bit more to get to where it is that you are going or where it is that you wanna go. Hard work is something that does pay off in the long run. It is an investment. You can't see it when you are going though so you can say that this is an exercise of "FAITH". It is essential for results.

So when you get to the end of the day and you think you don't have anything more to give, Give that extra little bit. Keep creating, keep reinventing, keep working on what it is that you need to get to the next place. Don't listen to what society tells you, generally it is ALWAYS wrong. Stand on what you know and keep working hard everyday, every minute and hour. Kick in that little bit more just when you thought you didn't have anything left to give...it will pay off, believe me, I know personally. Hold ya' head up, its a new year! This is my story. This is my song. This is my HoperaWorld.

Mr. HOPERA

Friday, January 1, 2010

The NEW YEARS DAY quote

So with all the new years resolutions I think we have a responsibility to really look at ourselves and think again about what our real responsibility is to ourselves in the new year and what we have to change and adjust within ourselves to get what we deserve out of this thing called life in the new year! And so I leave you with this poem excerpt that changed me some 5 years ago and helped me realize that my competition was not my fellow singers but it was my self! I was my biggest competition, fear, road block, as well as my key to success. As a producer, you are always your biggest competition, and author of your own destiny. Happy New Years Everyone!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

-----Marianne Williamson

MR. HOPERA