Opera--Review

Here are three secrets to help you decide whether to check out the next opera performance to come to town.

The first secret is that prior to World War I opera was meant to be mass entertainment. Opera occupied the same niche then that Rent, Chorus Line and The Lion King occupy now. Opera plots are simple and action oriented and every aria is intended to sweep you off your feet with wonderful melodies and lots of technical bravado. What's not to like? Well, OK--there are the dry spells known as recitative which can sound a lot like Gregorian chant. It's the dialog in opera and in many operas it is just frankly spoken. And there is the language barrier. Even sung in English, the libretto is often indecipherable. But you can bone up the story ahead and most programs give you a plot synopsis anyway. If illiterate peasants could follow the plot, you can too.

The second secret is that the days of stand and deliver performance are pretty much over. Opera performances are now held to the same standards as Broadway musicals. The directing and acting are expected to be lively and engaging.

The third secret is that almost any live performance is preferable to almost any recorded performance. I have seen recordings, including filmed versions, of performances that I attended and the recording is ALWAYS disappointing. There is a magic to live performance that cannot be captured electronically.

The Marriage Of Figaro is one of Mozart's most popular pieces. It is based on a cheeky comedy of manners which shows that men and women of all classes are pretty much the same when it comes to love. The libretto--if you speak Italian--is pretty clever but not really the point. The point is the music, all of which is instantly hummable with toe-tappin' rhythm. Given a game and attractive cast, a showman for a director and a decent physical production, this is really can't-fail stuff.

The UL Opera Guild and the Acadiana Symphony joined forces to present The Marriage Of Figaro this past weekend with two performances using hired professionals and the Sunday matinee being performed by UL students. I expect the professional production will be reviewed elsewhere. I wanted to see the student version and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So did the rest of the audience who gave it a standing ovation.

For the student singers, this is a great opportunity to play iconic characters. The students haven't done this show enough to be jaded--it is still exciting to them and their enthusiasm is well-used by Shawn Roy who knows his musical theatre. The performances sparkled, the action was nicely staged and the sets were attractive--especially the garden set. The students are lucky to have Shawn Roy to guide them because Shawn knows how to sell a show with a combination of razzle-dazzle and disciplined technique. The orchestra sounded great and let me repeat, you hear things in a live performance that you will not hear in a recording.

If you missed this production, you missed a real treat. Promise yourself that you will try to catch the next one. And look for Shawn Roy's name in the credits. It's a guarantee of quality.