A View from the Prompter’s Box with Craig Rutenberg

“The prompter is the ultimate safety net for the performance: a helper, part conductor, part assistant stage director, knowing the problem spots with individual singers — an in-the-moment problem solver. Those are just a few of the skills required.” – Craig Rutenberg

"I think the best description I've ever heard of what a prompter does is, we are the safety net. That was Maestro Levine's term for it. And if a conductor or director - more and more nowadays - doesn't see the need for a safety net - they're hanging themselves out to dry pretty badly."

On prompting a chorus: "There are certain, ahem, chorus masters who say: 'Don't bother the chorus.' The chorus comes to me and says, 'Please! We need your cues! Don't care what he says... we need you!' So it's always a delicate balance there. "

Social hour after Mr. Rutenberg's talk

Former Head of Music Staff at the Metropolitan Opera, Craig Rutenberg explains what a prompter does, what preparation prompters undergo in a particular production, and how a good prompter can rescue performers from disaster. He will also discuss the various responsibilities of the music staff at the Met — from rehearsal pianist to diction coach to assistant conductor to prompter.

This informal talk with Mr. Rutenberg will be led by conductor Tyson Deaton and discuss how prompting Wagner is different from, say, Mozart or Puccini; the differences between prompting solo singers as opposed to difficult ensembles such as Die Meistersinger; developing sensitivity to the individual needs of artists; the function of a prompter in the rehearsal room vs. the stage, and physical/technical aspects of positioning; memorable moments while prompting and in rehearsals, and of course what happens when things go wrong – or surprisingly right!

The event will be followed by a social hour with refreshments, and livestreamed (viewable up to 36 hours after the start of the event). WSNY Members will receive livestream link automatically by e-mail; no need to pre-register.

Program Change: Regrettably Ms. Joan Dornemann is unavailable for her originally scheduled talk. We thank Craig Rutenberg for accepting our invitation to this interview.

About the Speaker: Craig Rutenberg, a native of New Haven, CT, is best known as an accompanist and vocal coach. He is former Head of Music at The Metropolitan Opera and has coached nationally and worldwide for the opera companies in San Francisco, Chicago and Houston as well as at The Paris Opera, Covent Garden and The Glyndebourne Festival. Mr. Rutenberg has appeared in recital and recorded with Thomas Hampson, Ben Heppner, Christine Brewer along with many others. Future plans include coaching at several universities in the USA in addition to visits to China, Sweden, Italy and the Czech Republic.

Accessibility: The Opera America building has ground-level entry with elevators to the 7th floor.  Wheelchair accessible; modular seating will be arranged to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Handicap-accessible restrooms are available on the same floor. The venue is located on the west side of 7th Avenue between 28th-29th Streets, closer to 29th Street. Sidewalk curb cuts at the 29th Street corner are uneven; for easier access and tactile paving enter from the 28th Street corner (at the downtown #1 subway station).