Recently I had the good fortune to be invited to the Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts on Long Island.  Usdan is a wonderful summer oasis for students to pursue performing, visual, literary arts and more.  During my visit I worked with their chorus on excerpts of my jazz opera, “Dear Erich.”  In addition to […]

Rewrites, Rewrites, and another showcase.   After a crescendo of creative activity leading up to the New York City Opera reading of “Dear Erich” in June, the exhilaration of a successful production was soon replaced with the reality of the need for expansion and development of the story, refining the drama, and rewrites.  This has proven […]

The first reading of “Dear Erich” took place on June 20 in NYC. With eight singers and a jazz trio, it was a truly thrilling experience for me. In working with the singers, whom  I coached  extensively, the meaning of the text and the drama behind it began to come to life and take on […]

About a year ago, in my last blog post, I mentioned that having to take time off from performing due to my arm operation, I was doing much more composition. I also mentioned that ideas for a jazz opera were percolating. Well, that project has come to fruition and New York City Opera will present […]

My Arm A medical and musical journey in 5 movements (With a happy ending) By Ted Rosenthal © 2016  5th Movement   Post surgery I spent over 7 hours in the recovery room including frequent visits from Lesley, a thoughtful visit from my in-laws, and later a dinner of Chilean Sea Bass (hospital style). Finally, a […]

My Arm A medical and musical journey in 5 movements (With a happy ending) By Ted Rosenthal © 2016  4th Movement   I was now becoming resigned to surgery.  Picking a date with 4 weeks recovery was tricky but I had a break in the action starting the second week of February.  Dr. Iofin said […]

My Arm A medical and musical journey in 5 movements (With a happy ending) By Ted Rosenthal © 2016  3rd Movement   The physical therapy plan – significantly less playing, ultrasound heat treatments, massage and anti-inflammatory medication – was working.   And more importantly, now that I had successfully performed Gershwin Concerto in F at the […]

My Arm A medical and musical journey in 5 movements (With a happy ending) By Ted Rosenthal © 2016  2nd Movement   Dr. Glickel, the hand specialist, was not too “impressed” with my tendonitis. It was present but not to a great degree.  While I was pointing to the tight muscle and soreness in my […]

My Arm A medical and musical journey in 5 movements (With a happy ending) By Ted Rosenthal © 2016  1st Movement  It all started…well that’s part of the mystery…I don’t really know when it started.  But approximately two years ago in the winter of 2014 I joined a gym, or I should say a health […]