GlickArts

MSU Opera Double Header Sweep   3/26/2019

The Michigan State University Opera Theatre swept a double header last week with its presentation of two short operas, Rossini’s “La Scala di Seta” (The Silken Ladder) and Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi”.  These two operas are rarely performed together, but it resulted in a lovely pairing of musical styles and wacky story lines.

The MSU opera theatre is one of the great success stories in the mid-Michigan music landscape.  Under Melanie Helton, the company presents classic grand operas, American operas, contemporary operas, and operettas.  The program has grown so large, that the twice-a-year performances use double casts to give more students a chance on the stage.

Of all the operas I’ve seen at MSU, this is one of the finest. The cast was relatively small, with all members having a singing role. One well-designed set (Alexander von Blommestein) served both operas nicely.

Although Rossini is a well-known opera composer (The Barber of Seville) “La Scala di Seta” is known mostly for its wonderous overture.  The entire opera (only about 75 minutes long) is hardly ever performed.

Conductor Steven Mosteller set the stage beautifully with a superb rendition of the overture.  Lots of sparkling woodwind parts and energy gave us a preview of what the entire opera was going to be.

The silly romantic plot was fun and the cast was committed to the site gags.  In the show I saw, Shannon Crowley was Giulia, a young woman who lives in her tutor’s home. Her soprano voice was shimmering as she negotiated the difficult Rossini arias, but she also had a vibrant personality and stage presence.  I understand that she is a Freshman which means she has a bright future ahead of her.

She dominated the operas, but Eric Frost, John Henrickson, Cole Harvey, Savanaah Hegyi and Ben Reisinger also were excellent in their supporting roles.  The trios and other vocal ensemble movements were very well sung – voices were balanced with matched music phrasing.

After intermission, it was refreshing to go from the Mozart-sounding Rossini score to the familiar romantic sound of Puccini.

“Schicchi” had a larger cast but, but it wasn’t a chorus per se.  Each character had a name and identity and had a solo line or so to sing. 

Here the female roles were subservient to the male roles.  The plot was clever – a wealthy man has just died, and his sleazy family want all of his inheritance.  They finally find his will which designates all of his money to go to the Church.  In comes everyone’s shady friend, Gianni Schicchi who will make things better. 

Jadrian Tarver as Schicchi had a robust baritone voice and plenty of charisma to spread around.  He was the perfect Schicchi.  He mugged the audience, had a few dance steps and generally had loads of fun with the part.  At the end of the opera, he even jumped up and kicked his heels – not a common move in opera.

One more factor that makes MSU operas so enjoyable, is the recently refurbished Fairchild Theater. The intimate theater seems to be a perfect venue for a small opera.  The acoustics produce a  warm and natural sound which enables the audience to hear the singers without amplification – the way opera should be.