From “La Forza del Destino” and “Andrea Chenier” to “Waltzing Matilda,” from Richard Strauss to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” from Georgian folk songs to a duet sung entirely in cat-speak—Opera of the Hamptons served up an unusual, varied musical banquet last Saturday evening at the Levitas Center for the Arts in Southampton.
With about 30 separate selections in various genres, seven singers accompanied by the company’s music director/pianist Atarah Hazzan, and introductions made by artistic director Barbara Giancola, this concert was an example of multi-tasking, perhaps made necessary by the frenetic pace of events in August on the East End. In addition to the dozens of competing galas, parties and performances, severe thunderstorms on the East End complicated travel for patrons and resulted, unfortunately, in less than normal attendance.
But the show went on, in its somewhat perplexing way, to accomplish a number of goals, including to entertain longtime devotees of opera and to introduce new talent and compositions.
Ms. Giancola greeted the audience and introduced the first artist on the program, Liana Graffanino, a recent graduate of the Crane School of Music of the State University of New York. Ms. Graffanino, a soprano who is just launching a career in opera, sang the gypsy song “Granada” by Augustin Lara; “Summertime” by George Gershwin, and a selection from “La Boheme.” Her voice elicited applause and shouts of “brava.”
Following Ms. Graffanino, excerpts from several operas, interspersed with songs by Handel, Vaughn Williams, Richard Strauss and Sergei Rachmaninoff were presented by soprano Rosa D’Imperio, mezzo-sopranos Irene Silverman and Anna Tonna, tenor Benjamin Michael Sloman, baritone Zurab Ninua, and bass Nathan Baer.
Among the highlights was the finale of “La Forza del Destino” by Giuseppe Verdi—a trio for soprano, tenor, and bass. Ms. D’Imperio has performed often with Opera of the Hamptons as well as international venues. The Australian tenor and composer, Mr. Sloman, will appear in the title role of “Andrea Chenier” with Opera New York this fall. Basso Nathan Baer is a versatile artist who became a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera auditions this year. These three excellent voices blended in a touching rendition of the farewell scene with its repeated, sad “Addio.”
Also outstanding were the performances of Irene Silverman, whose exotic beauty and formidable mezzo shone in “L’Invitation au Voyage,” a song by Henri Duparc, and “Mon Coeur S’Ouvre a ta Voix” from “Samson et Dalila” by Camille Saint Saens.
Zurab Ninua’s rich baritone voice brought forth bravos for his rendition of a song by Sergei Rachmaninoff, whose title translates to “Do not sing, my beauty, to me.”
An electrifying performance of Franz Schubert’s “Erlkonig” was given by Nathan Baer whose dramatic ability and fierce voice brought a chilling reality to this dark ballad.
For a change of pace: Ms. Giancola introduced a world premiere. Jose Luis Greco is an American-born composer now living and working in Spain. Mezzo-soprano Anna Tonna, a frequent performer with Opera of the Hamptons, met the composer in Madrid, where she is currently a Fulbright scholar.
Ms. Tonna presented two songs from an extended cycle by Mr. Greco, based on the poetry of Lola Moreno. With simple but sophisticated melodies, both songs—“En piel abierto” and “Enluna”—have to do with the influence of the moon. Ms. Tonna’s expressive voice and beautiful phrasing provided a fine introduction to the composer.
After a short intermission, “Act II” of the concert brought opera excerpts, from “Un Ballo in Maschera” (Ms. D’Imperio); “Turandot” (Mr. Sloman); and “Andrea Chenier” (Mr. Ninua). The program then moved on to “Songs from My Heart—Songs from My Country.”
Mr. Sloman’s heart was obviously in “Jim Jones of Botany Bay,” a dramatic ballad that recounts the harsh, early history of his native country. He shone as he sang of Jim Jones, a convict in chains, who is transported to Australia, but vows to escape into the bush and eventually “kill the tyrants one and all.”
Zurab Ninua is a native of Georgia—not the American state but the country in what was the Soviet Union. He sang “Quiet Starry Night,” a romance, and an aria from the opera “The Legend of Shota Rustaveli,” both by Dimitri Arakishvili. Both are melancholy airs, full of longing and love. Again, Mr. Ninua’s performance showed a heartfelt involvement with the music of his native land.
Other countries represented in this segment of the program were the United States—Ms. Silverman in Harold Arlen and George Gershwin; Mr. Baer in the traditional “Every Time I Feel the Spirit.” Music of Italy and Spain was sung by Ms. Tonna and Ms. D’Imperio separately and in duet. But it was the music of a different territory altogether that brought the house down: the land of Cat.
Gioacchino Rossini’s “Duetto Buffo Di Due Gatti” is a mini-opera of courtship, seduction, and possibly true love, sung to the multi-syllabic but totally inadequate human transliteration “Meow.”
Ms. Silverman, in a red satin gown that clung to every intake of breath, peeked from behind a screen on one side of the stage. Mr. Baer stood grooming his (real) whiskers on the other side. Ms. Silverman, slinky, coy, and irresistible, poured X-rated meaning into Rossini’s melodies. Mr. Baer strutted and sang his pleas, advancing and retreating, finally conquering. Who could possibly refuse?
“Waltzing Matilda” concluded the evening. Mr. Sloman was joined first by the other male singers, then by the women, and finally by the audience in his country’s “unofficial national anthem.”
The entire concert was accompanied at the piano by the valiant Atarah Hazzan, who is also music director for Opera of the Hamptons—quite an amazing feat for a program that lasted almost two and a half hours.
The next Opera of the Hamptons production will be Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” on Saturday, August 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Levitas Center for the Arts at the Southampton Cultural Center. Tickets are $55 and $45 at the door. For more information, call 728-8804 or visit www.operaofthehamptons.org.
on Aug 4, 2008