CENTRAL CITY OPERA SEASON 2015 PREVIEW
“It’s an experience you can’t get anywhere else.”
Pelham "Pat" Pearce
General /Artistic Director Pelham “Pat” Pearce
took time out of his busy schedule recently to tell the readership of Marlowe’s
Musings about the upcoming season. Since his arrival in 1996 Pearce has done
wonders with the eighty-three year old company by mixing the classics with
contemporary works. Some of the unforgettable productions produced by Pearce are:
“Gloriana,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Poet, Li Bai” and the transcendent “Madama
Butterfly” of five seasons ago.
Central City Opera is the fifth oldest
opera company in the country and has been in operation since 1932. Besides
enthralling Colorado audiences it has attracted national and international
attention with its operatic offerings. The press from Europe and South America
was huge for both “Gloriana” and “Poet Li Bai."
The 2015 Festival will open with Verdi’s
“La Traviata,”playing July 11 through August 8. It’ll be followed with this
year’s nod to the canon of the American Musical, “The Man of La Mancha.” The
regional premiere of Boismortier’s “Don
Quixote and the Duchess” (July 28 and August 1) and Britten’s “The Prodigal
Son” (July 29 and August 5) will complete the season. It is to be noted that “Don
Quixote and the Duchess” will also play Fort Collins on August 6 and there will
be a performance of “The Prodigal Son” in Colorado Springs on July 30.
Pearce spoke about The Power of Women
(POW) events that have been created for this season. “The Power of Women in the
Arts Roundtable” will point up the challenges and triumphs of Colorado’s
leading ladies on Thursday, June 25 at Colorado Ballet in downtown Denver from
6:00pm to 8:00pm. The point and purpose of this gathering is to celebrate the
power of women and their evolving role in society as inspired by the leading
lady Violetta in Central City Opera’s production of “LA TRAVIATA.”
Although its production of Verdi’s masterpiece is somewhat of a remount
of the 2007 production, this time it’s directed with a woman’s touch. Elise
Sandell will direct Ellie Dehn as Violetta, Ryan MacPherson will portray
Alfredo and Troy Cook will take on the role of Alfredo’s father, Germont.
The cast of CCO's "La Traviata"(2007) Photo credit: Cory Weaver
Ellie Dehn will be remembered for her
outstanding Dona Ana in Opera Colorado’s recent “Don Giovanni.” Troy Cook was
the indelible Marcello of Central City Opera’s recent “La Boheme.” (Troy was
also the Captain in SOUND OF MUSIC last year and Ravenal in SHOW BOAT (2013)). Ryan
MacPherson was the unforgettably hilarious Pluto in Offenbach’s “Orpheus in the
Underworld” a couple of seasons back also at Central City Opera.
When I asked Pearce why the shows always
sounded so excellent at CCO he admitted that the fact that they “have a
training program for young opera singers helps. Where else can you find a
chorus made up of thirty-one soloists?”
Then there’s that fantastic live orchestra in the pit conducted by such
superb conductors as John Baril (“La Traviata”), Adam Turner (“Man of La
Mancha”) and Christopher Zemliauskas (“The Prodigal Son” and “Don Quixote and
the Duchess.”)
One of the other reasons the shows are so
good at Central City Opera is that the stage direction is outstanding.
This year “La Traviata” will be stage
directed by Elise Sandell. This artist has directed everything from the
Robinson production of Mozart’s “The Abduction from the Seraglio” to “Cosi Fan
Tutte”(also a Robinson production.) A
number of seasons ago Sandell directed “The Face on the Barroom Floor “ for
Central City Opera as well.
Paul Curran, the Artistic Director of
Norwegian National Opera and Ballet will direct “Man of La Mancha”. Curran is
well known in Colorado after he directed the stunning productions of “The Tales
of Hoffmann” (2004) and “The Rape of Lucretia”(2008). Having worked as an
assistant to Baz Luhrmann in the nineties on a production of Benjamin Britten’s
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Curran brought his own stamp to the production when
he directed it here.
"Man of La Mancha": Credit Melissa Rick
Baritone Robert Orth (Richard
Nixon in Opera Colorado’s superb 2004 production of John Adams’ “Nixon in
China”) will portray the famous knight and mezzo-soprano Lucy Schaufer (Erika
in “Vanessa” and “Cherubino in “The
Marriage of Figaro”) will be his Aldonza. (These two also performed together in
SOUND OF MUSIC last year as Max and Elsa, the Baroness.)
Sancho Panza will be
sung by tenor Keith Jameson (the Novice in Britten’s Billy Budd at The
Metropolitan Opera).
Adelmo Guidarelli,
recently dubbed “the clown prince of opera” because of his fine work in opera
buffo, will sing the innkeeper. Early in his career this artist was told by
Pavarotti to “make opera your Bible."
The first of the two one-acts this season
is Benjamin Britten’s “The Prodigal Son.” This opera will be performed in St.
James United Methodist Church across the Street from the Opera House. Bille
Bruley, who sang the part of the Solo Inmate in last season’s outstanding “Dead
Man Walking,” will sing the part of the Tempter (Abbot). Bruley
Michael Kuhn, who has
been praised for his “gorgeously clear and colorful tenor” will play the
Younger Son. Kuhn will also sing the Padre in “Man of La Mancha.”
Baritone Nicholas
Ward will sing the Older Son. You will remember him for his roles in such
recent productions as “Dead Man Walking,” Bernstein’s “Trouble in Tahiti” and
Rorem’s “Our Town.” Baritone Timothy
McDevitt will sing the part of the Father. McDevitt received international
acclaim with his debut as Le Mari in “Les Mamelles de Tiresias” at the Festival
d’Aix-en-Provence. McDevitt will also sing Marchese in this season’s “La
Traviata.”
The regional premiere
of “Don Quixote and the Duchess” features the music of Joseph Bodin de
Boismortier and a libretto by Charles-Simon Favart that’s been translated into
English by Thomas Getty. This opera puts forth an episode from Cervantes’ book
not used in “Man of La Mancha.” This opera will be conducted by Christopher
Zemliauskas and directed by Kyle Lang. James Dornier, who sang the part of
Basilio in last season’s The Marriage of Figaro,” will portray Don Quixote. Coloratura
Soprano Maya Kherani, who has sung everything from Rosina to Eurydice, will sing
the role of Altisidore. Michael Kuhn will sing Sancho. This opera will be
performed in the company’s rehearsal center.
The opera house was
built in 1878 and provides an intimacy that is hard to come by. When it first
opened its doors there was no such thing as air conditioning. As a result many
famous actors chose to leave the heat of New York City’s asphalt jungle to
perform in plays in the fresh, cool atmosphere of Central City, Colorado.
Lillian Gish christened the newly restored
opera house with Camille; beginning the tradition of the annual summer
festivals we have today. Some of the other stars who, have played at Central
City summer festivals are: Beverly Sills, Helen Hayes and Samuel Ramey.
There are numerous hauntings reported in
the area; so if you happen to be a Ghostbuster you have a whole new world to
explore when you’re not at the opera.
If you’re a history fan there’s lots to
learn about this town. After gold was discovered at Gregory’s Gulch in 1859 there
was a gold rush that added 10,000 people to the little town.
In 1871 the Republican convention found
its way to Central City and the rowdy participants (200 of them) found
themselves unceremoniously dumped into an office on the first floor. Luckily
nobody was injured.
In an interview some fifteen seasons ago
Artistic Director Emeritus John Moriarty told me that Meredith Willson got the
inspiration to write “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” while having a cocktail at
the Teller House right next door to the Opera House.
Ever since the Gold Rush of 1859, Central
City, Colorado has been known as “the richest square mile on earth.” Now however, the mother lode is Central City
Opera. The gems are its glorious productions.
There is the usual parking available in
the Opera Company’s parking lot as well as free parking in the garage at
Century Casino.
Kevin Taylor is serving dinner upstairs
next door to the opera house and there is the usual light fare at the Teller
House and in the casinos.
Whether you’re an
opera virgin or a jaded culture vulture, it’s this reviewer’s not so humble
opinion that Central City Opera is the most consistently excellent producer of
operas in Colorado.
See you at the opera!
For more information
regarding the specific dates and times of the operas and scheduling of the
events go online to centralcityopera.org or call 303-292-6700.
