From Deseret News archives:
Festival Opera bigger, better
Orchestra, company and repertoire have all been expanded
"When I say this is the biggest season yet, that is an understatement," founder and artistic director Michael Ballam said by phone from his Logan office. "The orchestra is half again as large as it's ever been before," and the company he estimated to be about 300 strong.
Finding housing for all of them in Logan during the summer, Ballam said, is quite a trick. And the total number of patrons for the festival nearly rivals Logan's population.
This year, the festival's number of full productions has increased from four to five. Verdi's "Il Trovatore," Frank Loesser's "The Most Happy Fella," Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess," Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein's "Show Boat," and Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's "West Side Story" will all come to life with original staging, costumes and scenery.
In addition to the established annual concerts, such as "Musica Magnifica," "Carnivale Operafesta" and the Youth Symphony, the festival is adding performances of the children's classic "Peter and the Wolf."
The season will open with "Il Trovatore," Verdi's tale of tragic revenge. Utah native Carla Rae Cook will return to the Ellen Eccles stage in the role of Azucena a role that, she says, requires a large range and a "very solid vocal technique top to bottom, and the beauty of the sound of Verdi has to be a '10.' This opera, written by Verdi, is considered perhaps one of his greats."
In this production, the goal is to "bring the music alive and characterization alive as close to Verdi as we possibly can," Cook said.
"Il Trovatore," is a rather large opera four acts. And in spite of the tragic ending, Cook says that the audience will walk away with an uplifted feeling.
Ballam said that "The Most Happy Fella" is a work he's wanted to do for 15 years, "in large part because the woman who created the part of Rosabella Jo Loesser is a very good friend of the opera company." Loesser is also the wife of Frank Loesser, who wrote the work.
"'Fella' is rather operatic in its scale," Ballam said. "It was a major departure from the things that were happening in 1956."
Comments
- From inconsistent to champions 4:58 p.m.
- Ex-rebel Uruguay's next president 4:54 p.m.
- Road rage leads to robbery, assault 4:41 p.m.
- AP: Eli Manning has stress reaction 4:38 p.m.
- Move over, Monopoly 4:16 p.m.
- Trains in gardens a hit 4:16 p.m.
- Trailers spoil the movie plots 4:16 p.m.
- Parents should listen to Lambert 4:15 p.m.
- Toys leave little to imagination 4:15 p.m.
- Holiday cards elicit complaints 4:15 p.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Hall comes up big when it counts
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
712 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
465 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - BYU is champion of the state
126 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
77 - Y. focused on 10-win season
74
The Wall Street Journal has reported that the holiday retail season...
When "Dancing With The Stars" began more than two months ago, 16 couples...
Comedian Brian Regan, who is scheduled to perform at Abravanel Hall on...
So I guess it's ok for my me to teach my son to hate BYU fans and Mormons...
wonder why they're not undefeated? no class max is selish and looks out for...
To: So Then, 4:28 p.m. You need to get your facts correct. The American...
This hatred and lack of integrity all stems from the head coach of the BYU...
I want to apologize to the University of Utah and its team for Hall's...
Can you give specifics on Brian Johnson's comments (like articles, TV...
Cougar fans, quit apologizing to these poor sport utes for Max's comments or...
FYI Cougar Fans, Beer is not allowed on Campus. Sound like Max is breaking...
I agree with your win is a win and I'm glad you realize this was our so...
The National championship in college football doesn't always produce a true...



You can be the first to comment on this story.