Dayton Opera Season 2007-08

By Burt Saidel

“Time flies when you’re having fun.”  I’m not certain that the past eleven years have been all fun for Dayton Opera’s General and Artistic Director Tom Bankston, but I know that he’s had his share of good times.

As the affable and multi-talented Impresario, Tom begins his twelfth season.  He has witnessed major changes in Dayton Opera.  He began while the opera was still in the difficult confines of Memorial Hall.  In spite of the limitations, the first seven seasons had many triumphs making Tom’s reputation and his niche in the Dayton arts’ scene secure and indispensable.

The move to the Schuster Center in 2003 was a mega-leap for the opera.  Tom now had a stage worthy of fine sets, no longer needing to be “chain-sawed” into the confines of Memorial Hall.  The remarkable acoustics of the Schuster have received raves from artists and audience alike.  We now hear opera as it was meant to be.  
Creating an opera season is like an artist looking at a blank canvas with a palate of colors in his hand.  The canvas is in this case the Schuster Center, the fine musicians of the Dayton Philharmonic, and the local chorus members under the direction of Jeff Powell.

There are so many facets to consider.  The operas must be selected and cast.  Dayton opera produces many operas of the “standard repertory” and many which are new experiences for the audience.  

Under Impresario Tom, Dayton brought Mark Adamo’s Little Women and Bernstein’s Candide to the stage in startling productions.  Tom’s faith in the joys of Gilbert and Sullivan has been the catalyst for H.M.S. Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance having a rightful place on the opera stage.

These newer works have been part of seasons featuring a stunning Aida, Jun Kaneko’s remarkable artistry in his designs for Madama Butterfly and many of the standard rep presented with freshness and élan.

Tom has also created the Star Gala, adding a new dimension to the opera season. Such superstars as Denyce Graves, Deborah Voigt, Ruth Ann Swenson have presented stellar recitals.  To add zest, two of the galas were quite different.  Opera Goes to the Movies and The Magnificent Mozart Effect were musical extravaganzas filled with favorite arias and spicy commentary.

Dayton is the birthplace of more than aviation. Many a star of the future is given first roles in Dayton Opera productions.  Tom’s energetic auditions yield treasures for today and stars for tomorrow.

This season has a taste of everything.  Opening with Mozart’s Don Giovanni, the delightful opera will feature a pair of success stories.  Dayton’s darling Laura Portune will sing the equally darling Zerlina and former Dayton Artist in Residence Adreinne Danrich will sing Donna Anna, her fourth major role with Dayton Opera after her “discovery.”  She now sings with major houses internationally.  

To sing the wily romantic roué Don Giovanni, Tom has invited young and handsome Timothy Kuhn to delight the ladies and, Tom promises, opera lovers as well.
A Verdi opera will receive its Dayton premiere.  Macbeth is a major work by the great master.  Impresario Tom promises a thrilling dramatic evening of great music by presenting this neglected opera.  Former Dayton Opera stars Michele Capalbo and Lester Lynch will sing the title roles.

After murder, treachery and death, we will return to romance and joy with a gala Barber of Seville. Two extra special features will be Maestro Neal Gittleman at the podium and opera director extraordinaire Gary Briggle in command of the production.  The two will combine to bring even more zest and gusto to Rossini’s delightful comedy.  

As clever and charming Rosina, Soprano Mary Wilson will return after her triumphs in two widely ranging roles, the Queen of the Night in Magic Flute and Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro.  As the implacable Figaro, Andrew Garland, who made the ladies swoon in Cinderella and La Bohème, will do it again.

The season will end with a Star Gala featuring a celebrated Met Opera Aida – soprano Angela Brown.  Ms. Brown sang beautifully in Opera Goes to the Movies. In 2005.  Her 2008 recital will be double barreled. The first half will be replete with arias and art songs.  In the second half the Wilberforce University Choir will join Angela and the hall will rock!

“Time flies when you’re having fun.”  The fun will be Dayton Opera’s fabulous 2007-08 season.  

La Vie en Rose at the Neon Movies

Rarely does a movie capture my complete attention. When one does, it is a rich and singular experience.  An offering at the Neon Movies, Olivier Dahan’s La Vie en Rose, was just such an experience.

This is the story of chanteuse Edith Piaf.  Piaf captivated the entire world with her magnetic voice. Her plaintive tones needed little translation from the colloquial French.  The meaning was clear in the expressive voice of this tiny package of emotion.

Piaf was an abused child, abandoned time and again, raised in a brothel, afflicted with temporary blindness and the harshest realities of life.  She survived, but as an abuser herself.  Piaf off the stage was a person full of invective, alcohol and morphine.  

She died in 1963 at age 47, her body wracked with the diseases of abuse. She lives through her remarkable songs and now lives more fully in this extraordinary film.  The story telescopes forth and back through time.  The photography, acting and direction are peerless.  As Piaf, Marion Cotillard has created a living biography.  

The film is scheduled to close on August 31.  I pray that it is held over for my dear readers who may have missed it.

Musical fairytale auditions Sept. 12, 15 & 16

Auditions for the musical fairytale Brundibar will be held on Sept. 12 and 15, for ages 12 to 18, for the 10 principal roles in Brundibár, produced by Victoria Theatre Association’s Outreach and Education Department.

Brundibár is a charming musical fairytale with a profound message, by Czech Jewish composer Hans Krása. The story follows two children who overcome the threats of a bully by banding together with their friends. Co-presented with Dayton Opera Association, it will feature the Kettering Children’s Choir and the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

Brundibár is presented as part of the year-long education project Through the Eyes of a Child: Children and the Holocaust, which exposes students and their teachers to the art created by children in response to their direct experiences with the Holocaust.
Roles are open to male and female actors, age 12-18, unless otherwise specified. Open roles in Brundibár include:

    * Pepicek (pep – EE – chek): Aninku’s brother; open to males, ages 12-14
    * Aninku (ah – ning – KU): Pepicek’s sister; open to females, ages 12-14
    * Brundibár: the title character, the villain; open to males, ages 14-18
    * Ice Cream Seller
    * Baker
    * Milkman
    * Police
    * Sparrow: magical animal
    * Cat: magical animal
    * Dog: magical animal

Auditions are Sept. 12, 5 – 8 p.m., Sept. 15, beginning at 10 a.m. and Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. If necessary a callback session will be held the evening of Sept. 23. Actors must be available for the entirety of the rehearsal period and five performances.

Rehearsals will be Mondays – Thursdays, 5 – 7 p.m., from Feb. 4 – March 8, 2008. Performance dates are March 9 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., March 10 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and March 11 at 1 p.m., at the Victoria Theatre.

Auditions will be held in the Burnell Roberts Room of the Metropolitan Arts Center.
To reserve a time slot for audition, visit www.victoriatheatre.com/audition_form.pdf to download an audition form.

* For monologues, visit www.victoriatheatre.com/monologue.pdf
* Music for girls of all ages and for boys age 12-13 is at
www.victoriatheatre.com/song_girlsboys.pdf.
* Music for boys age 14-18 is at www.victoriatheatre.com/song_boys.pdf.

For more information about Brundibár auditions, contact Luke Dennis, Outreach and Education Manager, at 937-228-7591 ext. 3039, or at luke.dennis@victoria theatre.com. 

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September 4, 2007
Volume 16, No. 36

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