AN EVENING OF DISCOVERY

 Kaya Gür, Caitlin Marshall, Chaehwan Lee, and Olympia Nelson

We are always delighted to be invited to Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo to learn more about Italian culture, especially when it involves music. The program we recently enjoyed there was entitled "Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, a Portrait in Words and Music". We were immediately intrigued since we haven't heard much about this renowned composer in quite some time. We were then working as a radio announcer for a program called "Voice, Piano, and Strings" and recall consulting the NBC Handbook of Pronunciation because we were unsure how to pronounce his name!

Our evening at Casa Italiana renewed our interest in this composer whose interesting heritage and illustrious career were described by one of his descendants, the lovely Federica Zagatti Wolf-Ferrari who is now a stage director based in Venice. We will focus here on the music but we urge you, Dear Reader, to read the life story of this major figure whose career overlaps that of Giacomo Puccini--late 19th and early 20th century.  Given his mixed parentage, it comes as no surprise that both  influences are reflected in his music, which has a firm Teutonic structure and charming Italianate melodies. 

This rewarding program was brought to us by the Lunigiana international Music Festival which takes place in July; detailed information can be found on their website--www.lunigianamusicfestival.com. They have chosen to honor the composer on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his birth. 

We enjoyed hearing  the Menuetto from a work he wrote for string quartet and a movement of a piano quintet performed by pianist Jasmine Ogiste and the four string players pictured above, comprising violinists Kaya Gür and Caitlin Marshall, violist Olympia Nelson, and cellist Chaehwan Lee.  One coudn't help but admire the variations of mood, key modulations, and enchanting shifts of string technique. We also heard one of his Three  Impromptus performed by pianist Cameron Pieper.

We felt as if we rushed through a tasting buffet and wanted to return to enjoy a  more leisurely sit down dinner. We wondered why his works have not recently received greater exposure in New York City. We particularly wondered when we heard some of his vocal music, performed by soprano Federica Venturi accompanied by Mr. Pieper. Ms. Venturi was a winner in the voice competition at the Lunigiana Music Festival and has a lovely Italianate style and most expressive face. Sadly, her performance was hampered by the detestable presence of a music stand which hampered her gestures and audience rapport.

Nonetheless, we felt particular interest in the composer's operas and wondered why we have never seen any staged. Among the arias we heard were selections from Le Donne curiose and Il Segretto di Susanna. Although Sig.ra Wolf-Ferrari illustrated her talk with projections, the translation of the libretti of the arias would have been similarly welcomed.

We decided it is high time for a revival of Wolf-Ferrari's music and hope that some New York musical institutions will heed the call!

© meche kroop

MA NON! THE MUSICAL!

Emma Grimsley and Matt Dengler

(Photo by Andrew Boyle)

You are unlikely to see a show this compelling on Broadway, which is where it belongs.  Unfortunately, no composer alive today is writing music that can touch the quality of the late 19th century composer Jules Massenet and it is his music that compelled us to brave the frigid temperatures and slushy icy streets of Brooklyn to see an original reinterpretation of Massenet's Manon, presented by Heartbeat Opera.  And so should you, if you would enjoy an entertaining evening that has one foot in opera and another foot in musical theater.

We have often written that Broadway is to contemporary audiences what opera was to that of the 19th century. We have enumerated Broadway musicals that we held in the same high esteem as opera--many of which were written by the late great Stephen Sondheim. Just as not all operas of years gone by have survived, so not all musicals of the 20th and 21st century will pass the test of time. Consequently, there need be no explanations, apologies, or categorization. A good show is a good show.

However, the triad of good storytelling, good music, and good voices must be met. The feature that removes Broadway shows from our consideration is the damage that electronics have done to our appreciation of the human voice. Performed in an opera house without amplification, A Little Night Music and Sweeney Todd are both operas, as are several more we could name.

This is the reason that we responded to Heartbeat Opera's hybrid production of Massenet's Manon with less enthusiasm than the rest of the audience. The storytelling was compelling, the drama was intense, the performers were appealing, and the reduction of the score absolutely brilliant. If some of the voices were a shade less than stunning we could not honestly say, such was the electronic sound design. Voices were sometimes a touch too loud or almost inaudible. The subtle changes of color and vibrato were lost. Enunciation was often lazy. We longed for titles.

We wondered why the decision was made to provide an English libretto but no titles. The verses were translated from the original French of Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille into colloquial English with more of an emphasis on rhyming than on poetry. Supplementary dialogue was of a colloquial nature.  We did miss the beautiful marriage of the French language with Massenet's vocal line, as did our guest who is an opera singer and a Francophone. As noted, performing in English does not obviate the need for titles.

The storytelling hews rather closely to that of Meilhac and Gille and tells the story of a young woman who is not satisfied with the limited roles available to women of that epoch. She is high-spirited and rebellious and not quite resigned to conventional marriage or convent life. She is torn between her love for the Chevalier de Grieux and the life of luxury available to courtesans. She exhibits the qualities of a sociopath, manipulating her lover and her "sponsor" Guillot. She comes to a bad end. The women of the audience get to enjoy identifying with her power over men whilst criticizing her immorality. She is indeed a tragic figure but we were unable to shed a tear for her, although we have shed many for Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata.

Emma Grimsley played the role to the hilt and is just young enough and pretty enough to be believable. (We might add that we reviewed Ms. Grimsley a decade ago in the leading role of Jerome Kern's Sally produced by Light Opera of New York. Her voice was scintillating and needed no amplification.) Her foolishly adoring lover was given a fine interpretation by Matt Dengler. Her wealthy "sponsor" was convincingly portrayed by Glenn Seven Allen. The cousin Lescaut who pimps her out was similarly effectively enacted by Jamari Darling.  Justin Lee Miller made a fine Count des Grieux.

For this abridged version of scarcely more than an hour and a half, roles were eliminated and cast members did double duty in minor roles. Not at all minor were a pair of "fallen women" (there were three in the original). Their roles were much expanded and provided lots of comic relief. Pousette was played by Kathryn McCreary and Natalie Walker performed the part of Javotte.

The new English book and lyrics are credited to Jacob Ashworth and Rory Pelsue who also provided the excellent direction. Scenic Designer Alexander Woodward did much with little--Manon's trunks from Act I became a bed and "la petite table" of Act II. Impressive crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling of the spacious playing area of The Space at Irondale. Period appropriate costuming by David Mitsch worked well.

We have saved the best for last. Daniel Schlossberg conducted his own arrangement from the keyboard-- a chamber orchestra comprising violin, cello, bass, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, and harp. The colors were glorious and did justice to Massenet's composition. We have no complaints about the score and don't think Massenet would have objected to the co-opting of his composition.

We cannot say we were thrilled to the core but we are glad that we didn't leave clutching our proverbial pearls and we feel confident in recommending the production for a fine evening's entertainment. We are left wondering whether any audience members will be tempted to see the opera from which this was derived, sung in an opera house with unamplified voices.

© meche kroop

 

A VERY GALA GALA

 Sophia Baete, Shiyu Zhuo, Kate Morton, Yoonsoo Jang, Grace Ryan, Sarah Rachel Bacani, 

Adam Catangui, Jihye Jang, and Clothilde Benard

If any of our dear readers have yet to be introduced to Opera Index, let us begin by telling you of our long term and rewarding relationship with this fine organization. It is well known for supporting young opera singers at the early stages of their careers, as well as for bringing together a group of opera lovers who share in their mission. Last night was the special event we members have been eagerly anticipating, the annual awards ceremony.

The event was held at The Metropolitan Club in their spacious formal dining room, with cocktail hour held in the anteroom. This is a valuable part of the evening when members and their guests are able to circulate, to meet and greet, whilst enjoying plentiful libations and tasty passed hors d'oeuvres. The energy level was scintillating as we connected with fellow citizens of Planet Opera and rubbed elbows with some very famous singers, including Ryan Speedo Green. 

At the appointed hour, the dining room was opened. We are pleased to relate that dinner was served after the entertainment, which comprised a recital given by nine top prize winners. This allowed us to focus on the singers without the interruption of food service. As is our wont, we will not say which singer was awarded how much money but we will tell you that the sum of $59,000 was awarded to twenty young artists, chosen by means of audition from a large pool of applicants. We would have liked to have heard the winners of Emerging Artists Awards and Encouragement Awards and we hope that we will in the near future.

A warm welcome and introductory comments were made by President Jane Shaulis and a well deserved Distinguished Achievement Award was given to the  renowned mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves whose glamorous appearance belies her four decades on the opera stage.

But, Dear Reader, you want to hear about the program so you can watch out for these gifted young artists, all of whom are pursuing advanced degrees and/or performing in major roles around the country. Indeed it was a wonderful program, encompassing several languages and styles. Providing lots of vocal thrills to begin the program was French soprano Clothilde Benard who dazzled us with vocal acrobatics in Marguerite's aria from Gounod's Faust--"Ah, je ris de me voir" sung as only a native born French woman could sing it. Trills were thrilling; leaps successfully conveyed the character's excitement.

Although we do not speak nor understand Czech, we do understand the legato  phrasing, vibrato, and dynamic control found in soprano Jihye Jang's interpretation of the water sprite's yearning in "Song to the Moon" from Dvořak's famous opera Russalka . Her silvery tone reminded one of moonlight and the performance took us out of the ballroom and into nature. We liked the highly dramatic ending.

Taking us into Mozartean territory was tenor Adam Catangui who gave an impeccable performance of Don Ottavio's moving tribute to Donna Anna in "Il mio tesoro" from Don Giovanni. Mr. Catangui has a sweet tenor so we particularly enjoyed the way he darkened his voice when singing about vengeance. We further appreciated the embellishments of the vocal line. 

We wish that soprano Sarah Rachel Bacani had chosen a different aria than the one she did which was "Laura's Song" from Copland's The Tender Land. We have nothing negative to say about her performance and, although we are not fond of mid-20th century American opera, Ms. Bacani did a fine job of creating the character of a simple young woman. It is just that her repertory, as related in her biography, has several more melodic and more dynamic roles to offer. We would love to hear her Juliette or Micaëla.

The role of Rosina in Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia is one of our favorites and Grace Ryan did not disappoint. With a true mezzo sound, she brought the character to life and engaged the audience by descending from the stage and "working the room", showing us Rosina's personality as well as her own. We particularly enjoyed the cabaletta with its elaborate rapid fire flourishes.

Our ears always perk up for bel canto and the Rossini was followed by some Donizetti. Baritone Yoonsoo Jang made an effective Doctor Malatesta describing the perfect woman he was proposing to Don Pasquale in the eponymous opera. "Bella siccome un angelo" is a splendid vehicle for the artist to create a character not so far removed from commedia dell'arte. Furthermore we enjoyed the rich texture of Mr. Jang's  instrument.

Mezzo-soprano Kate Morton performed. "Nobles seigneurs, salut!" from Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots. We confess our ignorance of this opera but rest assured, Dear Reader, we made significant efforts to understand the plot to learn at which point this aria is sung. We admit utter failure. We could not even find a role for a mezzo-soprano in the cast list. What we did learn is that this opera, although rarely performed, was a hit in its day. The plot is Byzantine! Let us content ourself with having enjoyed Ms. Morton's singing and a most artistic descending scale passage.

A more familiar French entry was "Non monsieur mon mari" from Poulenc's Les Mamelles de Tiresias, Poulenc's surrealist opéra bouffe that we did see years ago as a student production. Soprano Shiyu Zhuo charmed the audience by offering a verbal introduction to the piece which involved not only some fine singing but successful creation of a character--with an assist from collaborative pianist Kamal Khan who portrayed her husband! It was fun!

Bringing the program to a stunning close was mezzo-soprano Sophia Beate who performed Dorabella's challenging aria "Smanie implacabile" from Mozart's Cosi fan tutte.  It was a flawless performance which, as such performances tend to do, allowed us to create the scene in our mind's eye, forgetting all issues of technique and just enjoying the performance.

Opera Index does a fine job of finding and fostering young talent and giving them a career boost. We are proud to be a long term member. We are looking forward to the Spring concert which we will certainly announce on our Facebook page.

© meche kroop

TIERGARTEN

 Kim David Smith as Master of Ceremonies 

"Come to the Cabaret!"  Well Dear Reader, we did so and are mighty glad we did. If you were unable to get tickets (which is likely since any event produced by impresario Andrew Ousley and Death of Classical generally does sell out early) we hope to give you the flavor of the event. Imagine the supremely talented Australian cabaret artist Kim David Smith as Master of Ceremonies, taking the audience backward through time to visit various points in history that involved turning points or crises.

The program was conceived, written, and directed by Mr. Ousley himself; it included opera, musical theater, spirituals, instrumental works, visual arts, costuming, and even shadow puppetry. Working backward we began with Weimar Berlin, a time period that has interested us since the very first time we heard  Mr. Smith perform in the upstairs room of a gay bar in the theater district. This Australian "boy wonder" was new to NYC and we were new to cabaret. We became a regular, swooning over his interpretations of cabaret numbers in German and French.

Our favorite selection from this act was "Pirate Jenny" From Kurt Weill and Berthold Brecht's Three-Penny Opera. Mr. Smith put the right bitter edge on this ballad of retribution, accompanied by some clever shadow puppetry by Foreshadow Puppetry.

The next act featured the disturbing song "Strange Fruit" by Abel Meeropol given an admirable interpretation by Amara Granderson, and John Dickinson's "The Liberty Song" sung by Miguel Angel Vasquez. If the chronology was a bit off, it didn't seem to matter because it made artistic sense.

Representing the Salem Witch Trials, we were thrilled to hear Ariadne Greif singing Azucena's rivetingly bitter "Stride la Vampa" from Verdi's Il Trovatore. Even more thrilling than the performance was the enthusiastic response of the crowd which was decidedly not opera folk. We hope some audience members were so taken with the performance that they will seek out more opera experiences.

If that aria didn't do it, Ms. Greif's performance of "Piangeró la sorta mia" from Händel's opera Giulio Cesare  surely did. This was from the section The Fall of the Roman Empire and was so moving that we are still dealing with an ear worm. Mr. Vasquez followed somewhat ironically with Renato Rascel's "Arrivederce Roma".

In the next section Ms. Granderson gave a highly emotional performance of the spiritual "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord" the strophic nature of which has resulted likewise in yet another ear worm. In a burst of irreverence, there was a female Jesus (Pearls Daily) with a beard and red sequined pasties and if you are imagining audience members clutching their pearls you would be mistaken. We will try to include some racy photos on IG and FB, hoping that they will not be censored, LOL.

Indeed it was a wild evening, filled with contradictions, with something for everyone. We have grown accustomed to singers using amplification for everything except opera but we still prefer the natural voice. This is just our preference. No one else seems to mind.

Toward the end of the evening there was a sexy pas de deux performed by Liana Zhen-ai and Dylan Contreras representing Eve and Adam.

The evening of traumas was brought to a healing close by Mr. Smith singing George Gershwin's "Love is Here to Stay" which hit just the right note, so to speak, and the audience left smiling.

Let us give credit to the instrumentalists who did such fine work backing up the singers: pianists Mila Henry and Tracy Stark, accordionist Will Holshouser, and percussionist David Silliman. Everyday Fay created the costumes.

Any cabaret lovers out there would do well to watch carefully for Mr. Ousley's next extravaganza and book promptly!

© meche kroop

MAKE AMERICA GREAT (BRITAIN) AGAIN

 New York Gilbert&Sullivan Players' production of H.M.S. Pinafore

We wish the title of this review had been our own creation but it is not. It is just an example of the clever approach taken by New York Gilbert&Sullivan Players in adapting a Victorian work of quintessential British flavor to the tastes of 21st century New Yorkers.  W.S.Gilbert's clever lyrics may contain a few words that are outside of our vocabulary but the rhymes tickle our brain whilst Arthur Sullivan's memorable tunes tickle our ears to the point that we are suffering from what is known as "ear worms". If we are going to endure this malady it may just as well be caused by good tunes as by boring jingles.

Contributing to the rapturous response of the appreciative audience were a number of contemporary interpolations, not so very different from the liberties taken in The Mikado with "I've got a little list". Lest we deprive you of the surprise effect of these liberties, we will confine our mention to just one. Dear Reader, you must be aware of the nonsensical meme of "6-7" and you will enjoy a good laugh as the cast drives that one into the ground. The schtick were abundant in this iteration of the company's frequent revival; if some were groan worthy, let us not be the one to say so. We smirked, chuckled, and guffawed right along with the rest of the audience. That the gloom of this rainy evening failed to dampen the high spirits of the audience was obvious.

To those readers who have never seen this delightfully entertaining show, we will tell you that Gilbert and Sullivan made their reputation in Victorian England by skewering British society, especially politics and class structure. In the case of H.M.S Pinafore, the exalted reputation of the British navy and the limitations of class structure are the butt of their humor.

A "lowly" British seaman (Cameron Smith) falls in love with the Captain's daughter (Michelle Seipel). The Captain (David Auxier) hopes she will wed the aging and awkward First Lord of the Admiralty (James Mills) who boards the ship with his very controlling Cousin Hebe (Victoria Devany) as well as a singing and dancing chorus of "Sisters, Cousins, and Aunts". Not exactly the villain of the piece is one Dick Deadeye (Matthew Wages) who brings a very funny negativity on board. The denouement rests upon the shoulders of the (not so) Little Buttercup (Angela Christine Smith). Filling out the cast are David Wannen and Quinto Ott.

Maestro Albert Bergeret conducted the orchestra and it is they whom we blame for the "ear worm"; we cannot get those tunes out of our head, nor do we wish to.  Listed as Director was Mr. Mills himself with Mr. Auxier listed as Co-

director and Choreographer. The production moved swiftly and the stage business, which was abundant and bordering upon excessive, never interfered with the singing. We also enjoyed the choreography (originally by Bill Fabris) which involved lots of hornpipes for the crew and some delicate dancing by the Sisters, Cousins, and Aunts. Indeed the production is a beautiful one with a most realistic set (the Quarterdeck) by Albère and sensitive lighting by Benjamin Weill.

Although this work premiered in 1876, it has held up as well as those by the contemporaneous Verdi, although the comic style reminded us more of Rossini. Now here's the anticipated quibble. Although theater goers of today are accustomed to amplified voices, this opera lover is not. Whilst enjoying the performances, the acting, the directing, and the libretto, we feel unable to comment on the voices. Not one stood out as remarkably good or bad, just serviceable.  With comprehension varying from one performer to the next, and from one moment to the next, some of Gilbert's clever dialogue did not come across. Subtitles would have been welcome.

The performances of the romantic couple were overshadowed by the larger than life performances of the rest of the cast who are company regulars. We have come to expect these winning performances and would settle for no less. We had a marvelously entertaining evening and we hope you will too, if you are able to secure tickets. The show runs through the weekend and continues next weekend at The Kaye Playhouse of Hunter College. 

We are already anticipating the company's production of Utopia, Limited in April.

© meche kroop

HOLIDAY CONCERT AT THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM

 Artists of The Metropolitan Opera Chorus

New Yorkers are an intrepid bunch. Neither snow nor ice nor frigid temperatures will keep them from their appointed cultural rounds. Last night's cultural event was not to be missed. The rotunda of The Guggenheim Museum was lined with music lovers standing on the ascending ramp at every level with a significant portion sitting in chairs at ground level, all of us eager to hear Christmas music, some familiar, some less well known.

Regulars at The Metropolitan Opera are probably aware of the enormous contribution of The Metropolitan Opera Chorus comprising 75 full time singers; but not many know that The Metropolitan Opera is the only opera company in The United States that has a full time chorus. A couple dozen of them have formed a subsidiary entity called The Metropolitan Opera Chorus Artists and artists they are indeed.

We recognized several up and coming young singers that we have written about like mezzo-soprano Morena Galan and bass Eric Lindsey. In any other city they would be starring in an opera and in fact, many of them have done so, like big fish in a small pond. Maestro Jeremy Little conducted them and Lee Steiner accompanied them on the piano.

A special treat was the presence of soloist Jasmine Rice LaBeija, a Juilliard trained singer who has forged quite a career for her gorgeous flamboyant self performing in drag shows around the country and abroad. Please, Dear Reader, take a look at a photo we took of her and posted on our Facebook pages and on Instagram. We have a particular admiration for people with an unusual combination of talents who depart from the traditional path. 

She is the essence of fabulosity, beside having a sensational voice which she shared in Stephen Schwartz' "Through Heaven's Eyes" and the most affecting "O Holy Night", an English translation by John Sullivan Dwight of Adolphe Adam's "Cantique de Noël". The arrangement was attributed to Dan Goeller. It was lovely but we still prefer the French version. Do you?

"Carol of the Bells" struck a familiar chord, so to speak.  Rachmaninoff's "Vespers Bogoroditse" was particularly lovely. The audience responded with enthusiasm to Irving Berlin's familiar "White Christmas".

We loved the gospel inflected final number, Moses Hogan's arrangement of "Glory, Glory, Glory to the Newborn King" which had us moving to the beat. We could tell from the smiling faces of the audience as they filed out into the cold that they had been warmed by the concert. And this is exactly what "culture" should do for us.

© meche kroop

CLASSIC LYRIC ARTS GALA

 

CLASSIC LYRIC ARTS SINGERS

Although we enjoy Classic Lyric Arts students in small private concerts, it is at the yearly gala that one can see and hear a larger group of vocal and collaborative piano students of their three summer programs and also more advanced students of Classic Lyric Art Vocal Academy (CLAVA), a year round venture. It seems odd calling them students when their performances rival those with well-established careers. Many of them have been cast in operas and fortunate are the companies that hire them. The word "students" is somewhat misleading, but if you are familiar with the world of opera, you know that singers are always studying, even the most famous ones.

It is always such a treat to spend an evening seeing the results of their training. The students don't just sing, they present operatic scenes, staged and directed by faculty member Daniel Isengart. Attendees are treated to a sumptuous buffet before and after the performance and have an opportunity to mingle with the artists and to get to know them.  But the important thing is the singing so let us move on.

We will not be able to mention everyone who sang but we would like to share some of the highlights. One of our very favorite duets for tenor and baritone is the famous "Dio che nell'alma infondere" from Verdi's Don Carlo. Tenor David Freides, whom we recently heard as Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohême, showed a heavier part of his voice as Don Carlo  and baritone Enes Pektas, recently starring as Michele in Puccini's Il Tabarro did the same for his role as  the Marquis de Posa. It is so gratifying to see young singers stretching their voices. They gave us intense dramatics as well as fine singing. Excellent accompaniment was by Marianna Vartikian.

Ms. Vartikian somehow managed to create a fine simulation of a Strauss orchestra as Laura Soto-Bayomi, Estelina Syla, and Sophia Durante enacted the heart-breaking scene from Der Rosenkavalier in which The Marschallin (LSB) steps back and watches her lover Octavian (SD) falling in love with Sophie (ES).

Soprano Sofia Gotch, a recent prizewinner of the Gloria Gari Competition (as was Mr. Pektas) performed Juliette's "Poison Aria" ("Amour, ranime mon courage") accompanied by Giancarlo Llerena. The voice soared to the ceiling of the concert room of The Kosciuszko Foundation and the overtones bounced all over the room. Furthermore, the acting was most convincing.

Particularly well directed was the scene from Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore in which the naïve Nemorino enlists in the army to get money to buy more love potion. Danny Farah accompanied tenor Wonjin Choi as the gullible Nemorino and baritone Brendon Rapushaj took the role of Sergeant Belcore. 

Accompanied by Mr. Llerena, Kimberly Alexandra Adam and Daisy Dalit Sigal each performed a poem by Tonino Guerra, set by Giovanni Fusco. The works were surprisingly composed in the 20th century, surprising because they were singable. It would seem that anything written in Italian is singable! Both singers shone.

Creating staging for scenes involving a large cast is challenging but Mr. Isengart rose to the challenge and made perfect sense of scenes from Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Donizetti's Lucia de Lammermoor, and Rossini's Guglielmo Tell. Proof of "making sense" is when one can tell what's going on even without speaking the language.

There were two people in attendance who made perfect sense to us. One is Artistic Director Glenn Morton who introduced the evening by emphasizing the importance of language as taught in countries where the language is spoken with native teachers, and Executive Director John Viscardi who just so happens to be a superfine singer himself, one we reviewed a decade ago! Along with CLA France, CLA Italy, and CLA Vocal Academy, CLA is expanding again, moving CLA Mozart to an exceptional new location in Italy. Bravissimo!

©meche kroop