From Deseret News archives:

Festival Opera's 'Aida' and 'Manon' are stellar

Published: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 12:16 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
"AIDA" and "MANON LESCAUT," Utah Festival Opera, Ellen Eccles Theatre, Logan, in repertory with "1776" and "Into the Woods," through Aug. 9 (435-750-0300 or 800-262-0074)

No elephants cross the stage in the Utah Festival Opera's production of "Aida." You don't miss them at all. Rather than the spectacle that it has become, this production celebrates the Verdi's original intent as a "chamber opera."

It wasn't until UFO director Michael Ballam saw the production on a 14-foot stage in Italy, that he realized you don't need the spectacle, you need the passion. He's to be commended for that foresight, which has resulted in an exceptional treat.

Ultimately, "Aida" is a story of human emotion — jealousy, revenge, regret, and above all, love — set to a glorious score.

The same can be said for Puccini's "Manon Lescaut," the other opera UFO is presenting this season, which is imbued with similar human sentiment — as well as the willingness to die for undying love — done to music that can stir the soul as well.

Story continues below
• "Aida," one of Verdi's best-known and best-loved operas, tells the story of an Ethiopian slave, Aida, serving the Pharaoh's daughter, Amneris. They both are in love with Radames, commander of the Egyptian army. But Radames loves only Aida. That love leads him to unwittingly betray his country, but rather than renounce his love and marry Amneris, he chooses to die as a traitor.

The cast that UFO has assembled for the production has international flavor and stellar quality. Marie-Adele McArthur, a native of New Zealand, excels as the slave Aida, not only with her strong, beautiful voice, but also with her ability to capture the conflict Aida feels between loving Radames and loving her father and her homeland.

Lisa van der Ploeg, from Denmark, is equally adept as Amneris, who starts off haughty and proud but ends up despairing decisions she has made. The scene where she comes to grips with her choices has a powerful impact.

Arthur Shen also brings depth of emotion, as well as a gorgeous tenor voice, to the role of Radames. His opening aria, where he proclaims his love of Aida to the gods, leaves no doubt of his feeling. And the scene at the end, where he finds that his love has crept into his tomb to share his fate, is gripping. It's not surprising that this is one of the most potent scenes in all of opera.

The voices of the three principals blend beautifully on duets, and since the score gives them one aria after another, there's a lot of gorgeous singing going on.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Tamara Brown

Lisa van der Ploeg as Amneris and Arthur Shen as Radames in Verdi's "Aida," a story of human emotion set to a glorious score.

previousnext

Latest comments

"You are the very epitome of self-indulgence liberal crassness. You care...

WVC welcomes the holidays

I thought it was a great parade. Isn't it the only one in Salt Lake County?...

is struggling in some aspects of his game. We saw what he did last year early...

Having explored caves as a youth and spent 31 yrs working occasionally...

How do the Utes continue to do this? They are bad enough to lose to lousy...

A little help here. Harmon says Utah should be on a 3-0 win streak. I assume...

Boys basketball rankings

disgruntled parents need to stay off the blogs...

Honk if you intercepted Max Hall.

however it pertinent to look at their schedule and then look at ours. Because...

and there are no ute fans, only bandwagon fans, nice try though

Advertisements