From dsurkin@optonline.net Mon Mar 14 18:25:06 2011
Subject:David's secret life

I was trying to find out what David would be doing, and why (before I saw his post about health issues). I thought I'd share my Google discovery with the group:

California State University, Long Beach
Professor Designs Lighting for Opera in Beijing

Theatre Arts Professor David Jacques spent time last fall in China where he designed the stage lighting for Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute," presented in Hong Kong and at the new National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing.

Jacques worked with the production by Opera Hong Kong and jointly presented by NCPA and the Norwegian National Opera. "I created a theatrical lighting design using modern automated stage lighting fixtures. The lighting supports the message of the opera, creating atmospheres that support the mood of the piece while revealing the set, costumes and actors," he explained.

He has created more than 300 theater, opera, television, dance and special event productions around the world. That's when he's not playing his Hammond organ in local blues and jazz bands.

This spring, Jacques again teamed with "Flute" production director Paul Curran to design the lighting for the Canadian Opera Company's production of "Otello" in Toronto. He then joined the English National Opera's production of "Tosca" this May for his London debut, to be followed by "The Tsar's Bride" at the city's Royal Opera House Covent Garden next May.

Good luck, David! I'm very impressed.

--Dean L. Surkin