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Opera takes wing with seasoned cast
(by Sue Reid - September 22, 2011)
Opera takes wing with seasoned cast
By SUE REID
Favorites of the opera circle in Northeast Ohio will come together Sept. 30 for the opening of "Madama Butterfly" at Solon Center for the Arts.
Karen Prasser, director of the arts center, said "outstanding talent" will be on stage for the long-awaited production. "It is exciting to have the caliber of performers on the SCA's stage," she said. "Anyone who has heard them sing has been wowed by their amazing talent."
Timothy M.R. Culver, a tenor, plays one of the leads as Lt. Pinkerton. He is joined by baritone Brian Keith Johnson in the role of Sharpless, soprano Marian Vogel, as Cio-cio San, and Kimberly Lauritsen, mezzo soprano, playing the role of Suzuki.
"Madama Butterfly," based in part on the short story "Madame Butterfly," begins in 1904 with U.S. Navy officer Lt. Pinkerton and his soon-to-be-wife Cio-cio San, whose nickname is Butterfly. The two marry, and Lt. Pinkerton secretly intends to divorce her once he finds a suitable American wife. A son, Trouble, results from their union. He is played by Easton Singer, 6, of Solon.
Jonathan Field, who currently serves as director of the Oberlin Opera Theater and is an associate professor at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, directs the production. Kerry Glann, director of opera at the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University, is conductor.
A two-time first-prize winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council District Auditions and the winner of the Belle O. Morse Young Artist Award given by the Cleveland Opera, Ms. Vogel made her Carnegie Hall debut singing the soprano solos in Mozart's "Requiem" and Rutter's "Magnificat."
Mr. Culver, a staple in the Great Lakes music scene, has performed with the Cleveland Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Canton Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra, among others. He played Luigi in "Ill Tabarro" and sang in the U.S. premiere of Erwin Schulhoff's "HMS Royal Oak" with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony.
Performing in numerous concerts, Mr. Johnson's operatic roles include Henry Box Brown and Frederick Douglass in Opera Columbus' world premiere of Leslie Burrs' "Vanqui," Dan Dequille in the world premiere of Monica Houghton's "Big Bonanza," the kaiser in Cleveland Public Theater's production of "Der Kaiser von Atlantis" and Masetto in "Don Giovanni."
In addition to singing as Sharpless, Mr. Johnson will perform as Melchior in "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and Valentin in "Faust" with Opera Per Tutti.
Ms. Lauritsen has appeared as a featured soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland International Art Song Festival. She has performed lead roles with Opera Per Tutti, Lyric Opera Cleveland and Opera Cleveland on Tour.
Another exciting part of "Madama Butterfly," Ms. Prasser said, is experiencing it in the Solon Center for the Arts' intimate 205-seat theater. "I think audiences are used to seeing opera in the grandness of the State Theater at Playhouse Square," she said. Audiences in Solon will be able to see the special nuances between characters up close, she said.
For those who are new to opera and those who do not speak Italian, Ms. Prasser said, there will be super-titles in English above the stage, so everyone can follow the story.
Prior to the performances, Mr. Field will give informal talks about the show for 45 minutes. Everyone is invited to meet the cast in receptions immediately following the show.
"SCA is fortunate to have received the grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, as well as the additional support from Friends of the Solon Center for the Arts and the founding members of the Signature Club, for this production," Ms. Prasser said.
"Madama Butterfly" opens at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30, with an opera preview at 6:45 p.m. A matinee performance is at 3 p.m. Oct. 2, with the opera preview at 2:15 p.m. "Madama Butterfly's" final performance on Oct. 8 is sold out to the Solon Italian Club. Tickets for reserved seating are $25 and $20 for seniors and students. Call 440-337-1400 for more information.
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