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The Marriage of Figaro
The sextet's Riconosci in questo amplesso ("Recognize a mother in this hug") from Act 3 Thanks to Lee Green for his video of Sunday's performance in Grants Pass
Rogue Opera opens excellent ‘Figaro’ in Grants Pass
By Edith Decker
of the Daily Courier
The embattled Rogue Opera organization opened an excellent production of “The Marriage of Figaro” on Sunday in Grants Pass, despite a nearly complete change in administration and board a few months ago.
That must be in large part thanks to Southern Oregon University Department of Performing Arts head Noel Koran, who jumped in as artistic director for the company and also directed the production. He called on his long association with professional opera companies to gather an exceptional cast.
One of the wonderful things about seeing Rogue Opera productions is seeing the stars of tomorrow, the young singers — perfect for their roles in rollicking romances like “Figaro” — getting a chance to show what they can do.
It was a treat to hear Albanian-born Kreshnik Zhabjaku in the title role, for instance. Not only is his voice lovely and strong, but his acting skills came to the fore as he played the wily servant of a philandering count. Zhabjaku, who has won many competitions now lives and works in New York.
His leading lady, playing Figaro’s beloved, Susanna, is Jacquelynne Fontaine. The two seemed like they really were a couple, whether it was during a tender moment or as tempers flaired when the wedding seemed it might never take place. Fontaine, a former Miss California, is currently a doctoral student in Los Angeles.
They were simply a perfect match, both in voice and as actors. You’d think they’d been in love for years.
Giving the stars a run for the money, though, was Portland Opera soprano Wendy Parker, playing the boy Cherubino, who has a crush on the long-suffering countess — and every other woman he comes upon. His mischief gets him into trouble with the count, who sends him off to the battlefield.
If Figaro and Susanna are the happy couple, then the count and countess are the unhappy one. Count Almaviva is the embodiment of what we’d today call the double standard. He’s trying to seduce Susanna one moment and jealous that Cherubino is looking at his wife the next. Daniel Cilli is a tall, slender and imposing figure as the count, a role he also played at his home company, Opera San Jose.
Dawn Clare’s rich voice adds a dimension to the countess, a sadness you can hear in the notes. Clare has sung around the country, both in opera and concerts, and came from New York for this role.
Mozart shook things up a bit with his first Italian- style opera, and it’s still one of the favorites in his canon. He based it on an extremely controversial play of the time that made fun of the nobility and extolled the regular people — like Figaro and Susanna.
So the three antagonists in the story are people normally looked up to — the count, Dr. Bartolo and Don Basilio. Also, there’s a greedy widow, Marcellina, who’d like Figaro for herself and who extorted a promise of marriage from him when he borrowed money from her long ago.
Together, the foursome work to stop Figaro from being married to the woman he loves, all the while Figaro is trying to sort out the problem, keep the count away from Susanna, help Cherubino avoid the count and get to his wedding night.
Charis Peden’s incredible voice seemed wasted as Marcellina; it was easy to wish we could hear more of her. As her co-conspirator, Dr. Bartolo, Don Matthews added even more comic relief.
Rounding out the cast are several Rogue Valley singers, including Andrew Brock as the slippery Don Basilio, SOU student Dan Gibbs as the gardener Antonio, Marian Horton as Barbarina, and Natali de Assis and Leoni Lanzas as featured singers from the chorus of townsfolk.
The large orchestra that accompanied the performance was excellent, led by Samuel McCoy.
If you missed the opening in Grants Pass, consider catching it during the final two performances in Medford this weekend.
Courtesy Grants Pass Daily Courier
Onstage at Grants Pass for Saturday dress
Wendy (Cherubino) and Jacquelynne (Susanna)
Saturday Dress
Jacquelynne (Susanna) Wendy (Cherubino) and Kreshnik (Figaro)
Kreshnik Zhabjaku (Figaro) and Jacquelynne Fontaine (Susanna) show off their costumes, and some moves
The Technical Crew, Dan Haskett, Set Designer and Technical Director, Roxanne Miftahittin, Assistant Set Designer and Set Artist, Colin Green, Master Carpenter and Assistant Technical Director, with Dr. Noel Koran
Figaro's (Kreshnik Zhabjaku) aria - Non Piu Andrai from Act I
Matrimony, Mayhem, Mozart!
Mozart’s masterpiece and one of the world’s most beloved comic operas will be the
high point of Rogue Opera’s 2009-2010 Season. In a break from Rogue Opera's past, it will be performed in the original Italian, with English supratitles translation, and it will feature professional opera singers from across the country and Europe, a full orchestra and chorus, with beautiful costumes and sets. The Marriage of Figaro includes the characters we loved in The Barber of Seville, all grown up, with grown up problems that have to be resolved in one crazy day. Throw in a teenager with a major crush, a tipsy gardener, and schemers and dreamers looking for love and you have one of Mozart’s finest and funniest operas!
Performances will be Sunday, May 9 at 3 PM at the Grants Pass Performing Arts Center
and
Friday May 14 at 8 PM and Sunday May 16 at 3 PM at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater in Medford
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Celebrating 33 years of exceptional opera in the Rogue Valley!
2009-2010 Season marks the 33rd anniversary of Rogue Opera, committed to presenting high quality opera to regional audiences, training young performers, and directing its resources into the education and enrichment of our youth and community.
Rogue Opera was founded in 1977 by Dr. Ray Tumbleson, whose vision was to create a regional opera company that would utilize local talent to present high quality opera to regional audiences. Thirty three years later, that vision has been realized. With over 1,000 Opera in the Schools and main stage productions, Rogue Opera has become a treasure in the arts community.
We hope you will take advantage of our outstanding talent and support Rogue Opera this year. We have many great events planned.Thank you for your support and for bringing us to our 33rd anniversary!
Click here for Terry Tuttle's photos of La Bohème
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