Tenor Terrence Chin-Loy performs Ferrando, the primary of our holier than thou guys. I loved his efficiency just lately in Virginia Opera’s Sanctuary Highway. He has additionally appeared with LA Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, and Metropolitan Opera.
Baritone Ethan Vincent performs Guglielmo, the opposite man who makes a silly wager their girlfriends will stay devoted. Sadly, I missed his efficiency as Don Giovanni in Virginia Opera’s fall manufacturing which was not carried out in Fairfax. He has additionally appeared with San Diego Opera, San Francisco Opera, Opera Philadelphia, and Washington Nationwide Opera.
Wm. Clay Thomson performs Don Alfonso, the mature cynic who lures the fellows into their harmful wager. He additionally performed in Virginia Opera’s Don Giovanni, as Leporello. I heard him sing Don Alfonso beforehand in Wolf Entice Opera’s Così. Of his efficiency then, I mentioned that he “sang the function of Don Alfonso authoritatively sufficient with a powerful bass supply, although his youth made me surprise how he might have change into so jaded in his world view at that age; I’m stunned that nobody has tried to compose an opera titled “Don Alfonso, the Early Years”. I remorse I couldn’t attend Virginia Opera’s manufacturing to see how he has aged.
Ashley Fabian performed Despina, Alfonso’s paid confederate, who can be worldly smart, however extra mercenary than jaded. I’ve not beforehand heard Ms. Fabian carry out. She has a powerful listing of live performance performances with famous orchestras, and her evaluations for opera roles with firms akin to San Diego Opera and Seattle Opera, make me want I had been in a position to attend Virginia Opera’s Così.
What else will we be lacking in Fairfax? How about Maestro Adam Turner conducting the Virginia Symphony Orchestra offering Mozart’s nice music. The efficiency is directed by Mo Zhou who additionally directed final March’s Madame Butterfly by Virginia Opera. She has positioned the Così in a grand resort throughout the roaring twenties and affords the next feedback: “At its floor, Mozart’s Così fan tutte has lengthy been dismissed as a foolish story of affection and betrayal. However beneath the disguises and schemes, the opera reveals a razor-sharp exploration of human vulnerability, need, and the delicate constructs we mistake for love.” See. How’s your abdomen feeling?
As of this report’s posting, you may nonetheless catch a efficiency in Richmond, 100 miles south of Fairfax; sadly, I’ve a battle for these dates. Fairfax will get to see Virginia Opera’s premiere of Loving v. Virginia later this yr. If we wish opera to proceed in Fairfax, we have to inform our neighbors, attend ourselves, take our associates, and for those who can, make a donation. Because the outdated saying goes, use it or lose it. Are Virginia Opera performances in Fairfax slip, sliding away?
The Fan Expertise: Virginia Opera’s Così fan tutte was scheduled for performances on February 21 and 23 in Norfolk and February 28 and March 2 in Richmond. Performances in Italian with supertitles in English. I hoped to attend the February opening however climate (a uncommon virtually a foot of snow in Norfolk) difficult making a automobile journey. Sigh.
Virginia Opera’s world premiere of Loving v. Virginia will probably be carried out in Norfolk on April 25 and 27, in Fairfax on Could 1 and a couple of , and in Richmond on Could 7 and 9. The opera by composer Damien Geter and librettist Jessica Murphy Moo is predicated on the true story of a Virginia couple’s marriage that led to the Supreme Courtroom affirming the authorized standing of interracial marriages. This manufacturing will probably be directed by Denyce Graves and carried out by Adam Turner who will probably be main the Richmond Symphony.
