BYU presents '3 Ring Opera'

PROVO — Brigham Young University's School of Music presents a "3 Ring Opera" this month with a little something for everyone.

On the agenda is "The Stoned Guest" by P.D.Q. Bach directed by Eric Hanson; "Signor Deluso" by Thomas Pasatieri directed by Clayne Robison; and "The Old Maid and the Thief" by Giancarlo Menotti directed by Juan Pereira.

Musical director Ruth Christensen categorizes the music as melodic, generally tuneful, with some really 'romantic' musical moments in "Signor Deluso."

The more dramatic moments in "Signor Deluso" and "The Old Maid and the Thief" are occasionally highlighted by harmonic dissonances — nothing that people wouldn't hear in dramatic moments of typical film music, though.

"It's all very accessible to most audience ears," Christensen said.

In the case of "The Stoned Guest," the musical score is filled with moments of musical kitch or recognizable musical tunes and motives from other famous classical works that have been borrowed and convoluted for comedic effect.

The best example of this happens at the end of the show when a character named "Il Commendatoreador" comes onstage, and the music in the piano plays a rather twisted version of Mozart's music from "Don Giovanni." The character is a take off on famous roles from Mozart's "Don Giovanni" where the ghost of the Commendator comes back to torment Don Juan; and the last half of the name comes from the famous Toreador from Bizet's "Carmen."

Musically, as well as dramatically, there are many laugh-out-loud moments in all three shows," Christensen said.

The idea for the "Three Ring Opera" title was basically a take-off on a circus theme, with a ringmaster as the conductor. It proved to be a creative way to unify the comedic elements of three rather different shows, Christensen said.

There will be rings painted on the set, suggesting the idea of three comic acts going on in different areas of the set.

"Signor Deluso" and "The Stoned Guest" are approximately 30 minutes apiece, and "The Old Maid and the Thief" is approximately an hour. An intermission will precede "Old Maid," which is the last section of the program. The circus theme extends into costuming and makeup, especially in "The Stoned Guest," with most of the characters wearing bright, somewhat garish clothing and making up their faces using a bit of a "clown" effect.

Student conductor, Brandon Matthews, will conduct all four performances.

All major roles are also double cast, and each cast performs on alternating nights.

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If you go . . .

What: BYU Spring Opera

Where: de Jong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Campus

When: 7:30 p.m., June 7-10

Cost: $5 on June 7, 8; $10 on June 9, 10

Phone: 422-4322