Utah Festival Opera featuring comedy and tragedy of love

The story is told (and Utah Festival Opera director Michael Ballam loves to tell it) of how Peter Maughan was sent by Brigham Young to colonize settlement in Cache Valley.

"Maughan camped at the mouth of Sardine Canyon and stopped every wagon, asking the question, 'Can you sing?' If the answer was 'yes,' they were told to break camp and settle there. If the answer was 'no,' they were told to drive on."

True or not, within four years, Logan boasted its first "opera house," a meetinghouse on East Center Street where not only church meetings but also public meetings and entertaining performances were held.

The valley has enjoyed a love affair with opera ever since, and UFO is celebrating with its "most expansive and exciting" season in history.

Last year's budget crisis put the season in jeopardy, but support and generosity from the community and UFO patrons not only balanced the budget but allowed UFO to go forth with love and vigor.

So, it's fitting that romance is in the air with the opera selections at this year's season, with presentation of two of opera's great love stories. They show both sides of the emotion; one, a great comedy; the other, a great tragedy.

"The Barber of Seville (or, the Useless Precaution)" is considered one of the all-time great comic operas.

Written by Gioachino Rossini, with libretto by Cesare Sterbini, the opera, which debuted in 1816, features funny action, sly pranks and much musical chaos.

The story unfolds as Count Almaviva arrives in Seville, Spain, to woo the beautiful (and rich) Rosina, aided by his friend, barber and handyman, Figaro.

Rosina is the ward of conniving Dr. Bartolo, who intends to marry her for her money. To deceive Bartolo — and to find love for himself and not his title — Almaviva appears in a variety of disguises, which lead to hilarious shenanigans before love wins out in the end.

The role of Figaro will be sung by Kyle Pfortmiller, appearing in his third UFO season, with new-to-UFO Millinee Bannister as Rosina. Popular local performer Jordan Bluth, in his fourth UFO season, is Almavia, and Stephen Tsirakoglou, returning for a second UFO season, is Dr. Bartolo.

Love takes a darker turn, albeit to gorgeous, stirring music, in "La Traviata," a romantic tragedy by Giuseppe Verdi, with Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas. It first premiered in Venice in 1853.