Opera’s grand moments to be staged in region
Tom Netherland/Special to Bristol Herald Courier
Published: November 9, 2007
Updated: November 9, 2007
Never forget. Published: November 9, 2007
Updated: November 9, 2007
See an opera just once and unless the heart fails, order up the encores.
Hear a bounding bundle of opera singers in training during what’s billed as “Opera Grande: An Evening of Opera Scenes.” Scheduled to stage on Nov. 9 at East Tennessee State University, the bill features 14 students performing scenes snipped from some of the world’s more famous operas.
“We’re doing six scenes from five operas,” said Karen Smith, ETSU’s opera director. “It’s a sampler platter. You won’t be bored.”
Smith said that such singers as Kevin Fox, sisters Sara and Linda Brimer, and Shame Burke will perform a wide range of selections from newer operas like “Little Women” to classics such as Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” and Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods.”
And get this – they’re all young. Opera may carry a gray-haired stigma, but that’s just not entirely accurate.
“Every person performing this are under the age of 25,” Smith said. “These are young people who dig this. It’s not age-exclusive.”
Neither is opera regionally exclusive.
Opera in the Tri-Cities may seem as unusual as bluegrass on Broadway. Yet just as bluegrass and those who love it can carry negative stereotypes among those who aren’t well-schooled in the sounds of Appalachia, the mention of opera may invite a bevy of negative imagery to those who’ve never experienced it.
Opera is only for the upper class. Opera appeals exclusively to the stuffy and the snooty. You have to be wealthy and dress dapperly to attend. Well, no, no and no.
Instead, opera offers snippets of life – for all.
“It does,” Smith said. “I’m trying to appeal to people in this area. Number one, there’s not much of an opportunity in the Tri-Cities to see an opera. Most people who say they don’t like opera have never been to one.”
Be prepared to feel. Operas tend toward overstatement with grandiose performances that drip with drama. And no, most do not close with a fat lady singing. Operas may include such elements as comedy, tragedy, love, loss, hope and happiness.
“Just like life,” Smith said. “Basically what you do with an opera is to condense something tragic or that’s in life within an hour or an hour and a half. Everything is condensed. Opera is grand no matter how you serve it.”
Who would want to miss out on that?
Still, perhaps through ignorance courtesy of a lack of exposure to the sounds and overexposure to the stereotypes, folks who perhaps would enjoy the opera instead miss out. Boy, do they miss out.
“I think they are missing out on the grandeur of the opera,” Smith said. “Opera is a reflection of humanity. It’s for everybody.”
TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at .
IF YOU GO
What: “Opera Grande: An Evening of Opera Scenes”
When: Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Where: East Tennessee State University, 807 University Pkwy., Johnson City
Tickets: Freen Info: (423) 439-4276
TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at .
Advertisement
View More:
No tags are associated with this article
Not what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
Advertisement