Thursday, August 23, 2012

Video Preview of "Das Rheingold"

Union Avenue Opera's production of Das Rheingold continues its run this weekend, August 24 & 25. Check out this video preview of the production:


Be sure to click here and read what the critics have to say about the production!

Das Rheingold continues its run this weekend: August 24 & 25 at Union Avenue Opera, 733 N. Union Blvd. All performances begin at 8:00pm. Production sung in German with projected English supertitles. Tickets may be purchased online at www.unionavenueopera.org or by calling 314-361-2881.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Review of Union Avenue Opera's "Das Rheingold"

Jordan Shanahan as Alberich and Kevin Misslich as Wotan
How much can you downsize Wagner without putting him out of business?

The late musical satirist Anna Russell once famously cut the entire “Ring” cycle down to twenty hilarious minutes and some change while still telling the bare bones of the story. British composer Jonathan Dove had more serious intentions when he created a reduced version of the first opera in the series, “Das Rheingold”, for smaller opera companies without the facilities or budgets for the original. It lops around 45 minutes off the usual two and one-half hour running time and deletes one character (Mime, forger of the Tarnhelm) without noticeably sacrificing the story or the drama—still a pretty neat trick.

Unfortunately, the Union Avenue production’s use of Michael B. Perkins and Mark Wilson’s admittedly ingenious projected video sometimes falls short of offering the kind of theatrical impact Wagner had in mind (the dragon is especially disappointing), and the music loses some power in this unavoidably reduced orchestration.

Still, there are some great performances and enough fine singing to make it worthwhile.

Besides, to a certain extent the lack of theatrical flash sharpens the focus on the plot, the characters, and their implicit commentary on matters of morality and power. Wagner’s libretti for the “Ring” operas starkly illustrate the cost of abusing power and personal trust—highly ironic, given the way Wagner the man did both.

That said, it’s hard to get the kind of visceral thrills Wagner clearly intended from a 22-piece orchestra or from sets and effects that are only computer projections on the large screen that dominates the industrial-look bare bones set. That’s especially true when—as was sometimes the case on opening night—the tempi are so slow that they drain dramatic tension (the final entry into Valhalla really suffered rom this), the brasses have audible intonation issues, and the projections have a jerky quality that suggests the computer providing them might be underpowered.

Most of the time the band sounded fine, though, and the projected settings for the Rhine, Valhalla, and Niebelheim did create the right atmosphere. The production works far more often than it doesn’t, and given the near impossibility of what Union Avenue is trying to do here, I can’t help but admire it.

It helps that there are some standout performances, the most obvious being baritone Jordan Shanahan as Alberich, the dwarf whose renunciation of love allows him to create the Ring from the stolen Rheinmaidens’ gold. He’s a complex character, unscrupulous and a bully, but also wronged by the gods and less deluded than they about the cost of the Ring’s power. Mr. Shanahan’s Alberich is powerfully sung and dramatically convincing.

Todd von Felker and Nikolas Wenzel are solid as the giants Fasolt and Fafner, and tenor Marc Schapman radiates detached amusement as the wily fire god Loge. Kevin Misslich is a good physical type for Wotan but, at least on opening night, he didn’t always seem fully engaged with the character and his voice was sometimes drowned out by the orchestra.

The women in this cast are mostly very strong singers and actors. Elise Quagliata, who was so stunning in “Dead Man Walking” last season, turns in another fine performance as Fricka. Both she and Cecelia Stearman, in the cameo role of Erda, the Earth Goddess, are commanding figures that demand and get attention with their vocal power and concentration. Elizabeth Beers Kataria, Megan Hart, and Katja Heuzeroth harmonize beautifully as the Rheinmaidens.

My complaints about some tempo choices aside, Scott Schoonover does well by the score and the sound overall is as beefy as you can probably get in that small pit. He even managed to squeeze in a couple of the tuned anvils (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) that Wagner calls for in the Niebelheim sequence.

Teresa Dogget’s costumes mostly work very well, with Wotan’s family all in white outfits reminiscent of late 19th century European royalty, Erda in earth tones, and Alberich and the Nibelung supernumeraries looking like peasants from the same period. The exaggerated shoulders and Frankenstein boots of the giants give them an appropriately massive look while not visibly impeding their movement. Loge’s red-accented costume and punkish white wig, however, just looked goofy to me.

Patrick Huber’s lighting, while unavoidably rudimentary, nevertheless does the job and Elise LaBarge’s English supertitles are, as usual, clear and easily visible throughout the house. Stage director Karen Coe Miller does a heroic job of pulling everything together and making it all work as theatre despite the overall difficulty of the project.

Add it all up and you have an ambitious and highly flawed mini-“Rheingold” that retains the essential musical and theatrical values of the original but does so in a rather diminished form. If you have never seen any of the “Ring” operas, this would be a great opportunity to start making their acquaintance. It will be interesting to see what Union Avenue does with Mr. Dove’s downsized versions of the other three operas in the cycle, which it will mount on an annual basis through 2015.

Meanwhile, “Das Rheingold” concludes with performances Friday and Saturday, August 24 and 25 at 8 PM at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information: unionavenueopera.org.

Chuck Lavazzi is the senior performing arts critic for 88.1 KDHX, where this review originally appeared

Monday, August 20, 2012

The Critics on UAO's "Das Rheingold"

Union Avenue Opera's production of Wagner's Das Rheingold continues its run this weekend. Here's a sample of what Mark Bretz of Ladue News, Gerry Kowarsky of Two on the Aisle, Chuck Lavazzi of KDHX, Chris Gibson of BroadwayWorld.com and Sarah Bryan Miller of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch have to say about the production:

Mark Bretz:
"Director Karen Coe Miller’s spirited telling of Das Rheingold, along with the noble contributions of artistic director and conductor Scott Schoonover and a reduced orchestra, make for an auspicious beginning on UAO’s ambitious four-year quest...Projection designer Michael Perkins, with the aid of projection consultant Mark Wilson, fills the screen with lavish landscapes as well as a surreal appearance for the castle that reaches into the sky...[Jordan] Shanahan's anguish as the continually frustrated dwarf is palpable in his portrayal, while [Elise] Quagliata puts considerable depth into her depiction of the queen angered by Wotan's poor decisions...Marc Schapman's Loge is suitably deceptive and cunning, and Joy Boland is fine in the minor role of the hapless Freia...Cecelia Stearman is striking in her brief scene as Earth goddess Erda." 
"Union Avenue Opera's engaging Das Rheingold offers a tantalizing hint as to what UAO's four-part presentation can achieve."
Gerry Kowarsky:
"The most impressive aspect of the production is the combination of Patrick Huber's set design and Michael Perkins' video design...I liked the way the costumes distinguished between the three races in the opera: gods, giants and dwarves...The production is well cast...Jordan Shanahan's Alberich is outstanding...Karen Coe Miller's direction for the most part tells the story effectively...I can hardly wait for next year's Die Walküre." 
Chuck Lavazzi:
"[Jordan] Shanahan's Alberich is powerfully sung and dramatically convincing...Tenor Marc Schapman radiates detached amusement as the wily fire god Loge...Elise Quagliata turns in another fine performance as Fricka. Both she and Cecelia Stearman, in the cameo role of Erda, the Earth Goddess, are commanding figures that demand and get attention with their vocal power and concentration...Elizabeth Beers Kataria, Megan Hart, and Katja Heuzeroth harmonize beautifully as the Rheinmaidens...Scott Schoonover does well by the score and the sound overall is as beefy as you can probably get in that small pit...Teresa Doggett’s costumes mostly work very well...Stage director Karen Coe Miller does a heroic job of pulling everything together and making it all work as theatre despite the overall difficulty of the project." 
"If you have never seen any of the “Ring” operas, this would be a great opportunity to start making their acquaintance."
Chris Gibson:
[A]ny Wagner has the ability to be stirring and surprisingly cinematic in execution, and this presentation is no exception...[Tenor Marc Schapman] brings a playful presence to the proceedings...Cecelia Stearman makes a bright appearance as Erda, an Earth Goddess, who talks some sense into Wotan once he's received the ring, but finds its power invigorating...Scott Schoonover conducts this piece with considerable aplomb, capturing the bombast inherent in Wagner, but also the delicacy as well..." 
"If you've never seen Wagner, then by all means, you must take in a performance of the Union Avenue Opera's Das Rheingold."
Sarah Bryan Miller:
"The pared-down version of “Das Rheingold” at Union Avenue Opera is definitely Wagner Lite. For some people, it might just be Wagner Without Fear."
"[D]irector Karen Coe Miller and her production team of scenic designer Patrick Huber and video designer Michael B. Perkins came up with the best possible solution for the sets...That enabled them to put on an impressive introductory show...Teresa Doggett’s costumes suited the production; those for the giants were a lot of fun...Clark Sturdevant’s sweet-voiced Froh and John Maynard’s sturdy Donner were standouts...Marc Schapman’s Loge, the capricious demigod of fire, had the right degree of snark...Baritone Jordan Shanahan, uglified, was terrific as Alberich, the dwarf who renounces love, steals the Rheingold and sets the whole cycle in motion...Todd von Felker and Nikolas Wenzel, as the shambling giants Fasolt and Fafner, sang richly and were nicely differentiated...Schoonover had the flow of the score in hand." 
"You can never have too much Wagner. On to “Die Walküre”!"
Be sure to revisit this post for a review from Gerry Kowarsky and Bob Wilcox of HEC-TV's Two on the Aisle.

Das Rheingold continues its run this weekend: August 24 & 25 at Union Avenue Opera, 733 N. Union Blvd. All performances begin at 8:00pm. Production sung in German with projected English supertitles. Tickets may be purchased online at www.unionavenueopera.org or by calling 314-361-2881.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Eine kleine Wagnerhumor

Unsure about attending Union Avenue Opera's Das Rheingold? Overwhelmed by all the drama, characters and leitmotifs to keep track of? Let classical music humorist Anna Russell explain it all succinctly and hilariously with her famous "analysis" of Wagner's Ring Cycle.



(The above embedded video is a playlist showing all three parts in succession.)

Das Rheingold opens August 17 and runs August 18, 24, 25 at Union Avenue Opera, 733 N. Union Blvd. All performances begin at 8:00pm. Production sung in German with projected English supertitles. Tickets may be purchased online at www.unionavenueopera.org or by calling 314-361-2881.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

"Das Rheingold" Opens Friday at Union Avenue Opera

Baritone Jordan Shanahan as Alberich
Photo © Ron Lindsey, 2012, All rights reserved.
Union Avenue Opera begins a four-year odyssey in presenting Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold, the first of the composer's epic Ring Cycle. Condensed and reduced by English composer Jonathan Dove, this adaptation retains the essence of Wagner while making it accessible to UAO’s intimate setting.

A saga of epic proportion replete with giants, gods, goddesses and a dragon, Das Rheingold opens in the waters of the river Rhine, where three Rhine-maidens guard the river’s magical gold. Enraged by their scorn, conniving dwarf Alberich steals enough of this precious metal to forge a ring that gives its bearer unimaginable power. Meanwhile Wotan and Loge, two powerful gods, conspire to steal the gold as ransom for the goddess Freia who has been kidnapped by the giants. The ensuing struggle for possession of the ring drives this dramatic opera.

Composer
Jonathan Dove
Composer Jonathan Dove originally wrote this condensed and reduced version for Opera Birmingham with the intent that all four operas could be performed in the span of two nights and sung in an English translation. When deciding how UAO would present all four operas, Artistic Director Scott Schoonover chose to present one opera per season through 2015 and, in accordance with the company's mission statement, have the libretto sung in the original German.

This will be the third time the Ring Cycle has been performed in St. Louis. Patricia Rice of the St. Louis Beacon reports that the last two were brought here in 1889 and 1930 by the touring German Opera Company.

THE CAST

Union Avenue Opera presents several familiar artists: Bass-Baritone Kevin Misslich (title role in 2005's Falstaff) sings the role of the god Wotan. Mezzo-Soprano Elise Quagliata (Sister Helen Prejean in last season's Dead Man Walking) sings the role of the goddess Fricka, Wotan's wife. Tenor Marc Schapman (Acis in April's Acis and Galatea) sings the role of fire god Loge. Soprano Joy Boland (Emilia in 2008's Otello) sings the role of the goddess Freia. Tenor Clark Sturdevant (Father Grenville in Dead Man Walking) sings the role of Froh. Mezzo-soprano Cecelia Stearman (Mrs. Boucher in Dead Man Walking) sings the role of earth goddess Erda. Bass-Baritone Todd von Felker (Samuel in July's Un Ballo in Maschera) sings the role of the giant Fasolt. Baritone Jordan Shanahan (Joseph de Rocher in Dead Man Walking) sings the role of the dwarf Alberich.

Megan Hart, Elizabeth Beers-Kataria,
Katja Heuzeroth & Jordan Shanahan

Photo © Patrick Huber, 2012,
All rights reserved.
Five artists make their UAO debut. As the three Rhinemaidens: Sopranos Elizabeth Beers-Kataria (Woglinde), Megan Hart (Wellgunde) and Mezzo-Soprano Katja Heuzeroth (Floßhilde). Bass-Baritone Nikolas Wenzel sings the role of the giant Fafner. Baritone John Maynard sings the role of the god Donner.

THE CREW

UAO Artistic Director Scott Schoonover conducts. Stage Director Karen Coe Miller makes her Union Avenue Opera debut. Allyson Ditchey serves as Stage Manager. The Design team includes Set Designer Patrick Huber, Projection Designer Michael B. Perkins, Costume Designer Teresa Doggett. Pianist Nancy Mayo serves as production répetiteur.

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION

Want a chance to hobnob with cast and crew of Das Rheingold on Opening Night? UAO hosts an Opening Night Reception on August 17 after the performance at Tavern of Fine Arts. Click here for more information!

WAGNER LECTURE SERIES

UAO's FREE Educational Series continues Thursday night, August 16 at 7:00pm at Union Avenue Opera, with Scott Stearman's lecture On God, Gods, and Ecstatically Singing for Sex: Wagner’s Love of Love in the Ring Cycle. Glen Bauer, Ph.D., Associate Chair of the Webster University Music Department will also give lectures one hour before each Friday performance (August 17/24) at Union Avenue Opera. All lectures are FREE and open to ticket holders and the general public.

Das Rheingold opens August 17 and runs August 18, 24, 25 at Union Avenue Opera, 733 N. Union Blvd. All performances begin at 8:00pm. Production sung in German with projected English supertitles. Tickets may be purchased online at www.unionavenueopera.org or by calling 314-361-2881.

Your "Das Rheingold" Media Hub

St. Louis media is buzzing over Union Avenue Opera's production of Wagner's Das Rheingold. Don't want to miss anything? Want to learn more? Look no further than this blog post for links to news stories and multimedia.

PRINT MEDIA
  • Patricia Rice of the St. Louis Beacon interviews the artists of Das Rheingold and provides history on Wagner's Ring as well as its performance history in St. Louis.
  • Sarah Bryan Miller interviews Scott Schoonover and Rheingold stage director Karen Coe Miller for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
RADIO & AUDIO
  • Jim Althoff of Cityscape interviews Karen Coe Miller and Wagner lecturer Scott Stearman.
  • Scott Schoonover guests on KDHX's Break A Leg with hosts Deborah Sharn and Scott Miller to discuss the production and the Jonathan Dove reduction of the score.
  • Those who missed Scott Stearman's August 9th lecture--Sublime, Beauty from a Sinister Soul?--can hear it now via YouTube.
Want a chance to hobnob with cast and crew of Das Rheingold on Opening Night? UAO hosts an Opening Night Reception on August 17 after the performance at Tavern of Fine Arts. Click here for more information!

UAO's FREE Educational Series continues Thursday night, August 16 at 7:00pm at Union Avenue Opera, with Scott Stearman's lecture On God, Gods, and Ecstatically Singing for Sex: Wagner’s Love of Love in the Ring Cycle. Glen Bauer, Ph.D., Associate Chair of the Webster University Music Department will also give lectures one hour before each Friday performance (August 17/24) at Union Avenue Opera. All lectures are FREE and open to ticket holders and the general public.

Das Rheingold opens August 17 and runs August 18, 24, 25 at Union Avenue Opera, 733 N. Union Blvd. All performances begin at 8:00pm. Production sung in German with projected English supertitles. Tickets may be purchased online at www.unionavenueopera.org or by calling 314-361-2881.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

UAO Kicks Off Free Wagner Lecture Series Tonight

Union Avenue Opera kicks off its Wagner Lecture Series this evening, beginning with the first of two free educational series presented by Scott Stearman, Senior Pastor of Kirkwood Baptist Church. 

Thursday, August 9 at 7:00 p.m.: Sublime, Beauty from a Sinister Soul? Wagner’s music, his Anti-Semitism, and his relationship to Nietzsche
In this interactive presentation, Scott Stearman will begin by discussing why, 199 years after Wagner’s birth, Wagner is still one of the most venerated composers of all time and one of the most despised. He has been rightly honored for transforming the operatic and classical music world. Wagner has been blamed for contributing to what happened in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. His reputation suffered because of his relationship with a much younger Friedrich Nietzsche – Nietzsche ultimately rejected Wagner on philosophical principles. Their relationship gives us insight into what Wagner came to believe and what ultimately he was attempting to do with his unparalleled compositions.
Attendees will be given a first look at the set and treated to a guest performance* by the cast of Das Rheingold (*August 9 only).

Scott Stearman
About Scott Stearman
Scott Stearman has been Senior Pastor of Kirkwood Baptist Church since 2003. He has served churches in Oklahoma, Athens, Greece, and Paris, France (1995-2003). He is an adjunct faculty member at Webster University in religion and Missouri Baptist University in humanities. Stearman earned a Bachelor of Arts from Oklahoma Baptist University with majors in religion and history, a Masters of Divinity in biblical languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a doctor of Philosophy in ancient philosophy from the University of Oklahoma. His interest in Wagner dates back to his “Tristan transformation” in his late 20s. in recent years he has been privileged to see the Ring cycle at Lyric Opera and Metropolitan Opera in addition to making the pilgrimage to Bayreuth, Germany twice.

Stearman will be presenting a second lecture On God, Gods, and Ecstatically Singing for Sex: Wagner’s Love of Love in the Ring Cycle on August 16 at 7:00 p.m. Stay tuned to Operatic Saint Louis for more information.

Das Rheingold opens August 17 and runs August 18, 24, 25 at Union Avenue Opera, 733 N. Union Blvd. All performances begin at 8:00pm. Production sung in German with projected English supertitles. Tickets may be purchased online at www.unionavenueopera.org or by calling 314-361-2881.

Monday, August 6, 2012

UAO Offers "Das Rheingold" Lecture Series & Opening Night Reception

Union Avenue Opera's production of Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold opens a week from this Friday. The company has planned a variety of educational lecture series surrounding this production as well as an Opening Night Reception that you will not want to miss.

Opening Night Reception 

Mingle with your fellow opera lovers and the cast of Das Rheingold following the opening night performance on August 17, 2012 at Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt Ave (.65 miles from UAO).

Tickets are $25* each and include dessert buffet and two drink tickets. Visit the UAO website at unionavenueopera.org or call the box office at 314-361-2881 for more information. Reservation Required.

*Tickets to Das Rheingold not included in price of reception ticket. Das Rheingold tickets sold separately.

Want to learn more about Wagner and the Ring?

Free Educational Series

August 9 at 7:00 P.M.
Sublime, Beauty from a Sinister Soul? Wagner's music, his Anti-Semitism, and his relationship to Nietzsche

August 16 at 7:00 P.M.
On God, Gods, and Ecstatically Singing for Sex: Wagner's Love of Love in the Ring Cycle

Presented by Scott Stearman, Senior Pastor of Kirkwood Baptist Church, both lectures are FREE and open to the public. Attendees will be given a first look at the set and treated to a guest performance* by members of the cast of Das Rheingold (*August 9 only). Lectures take place in the Fellowship Gallery of Union Avenue Opera, 733 N. Union Blvd.

Free Friday Night Lectures

Friday, August 17 at 7:00 P.M.
Friday, August 24 at 7:00 P.M.

Join operagoers in the Fellowship Gallery for a pre-performance lecture led by Glen Bauer, Ph.D., Associate Chair, Department of Music at Webster university prior to the Friday night performances. All lectures are FREE and open to both ticket holders and the public.

Have General Admission tickets? Stop by the Box Office prior to the lecture to receive a placard to reserve your space in the theater before attending the lecture.

Want to play trivia and win fabulous prizes?

Connect to Union Avenue Opera on Facebook and Twitter to play Wagnerian trivia in the "Countdown to Wagner" leading up to Opening Night!

Das Rheingold opens August 17 and runs August 18, 24, 25 at Union Avenue Opera, 733 N. Union Blvd. All performances begin at 8:00pm. Production sung in German with projected English supertitles. Tickets may be purchased online at www.unionavenueopera.org or by calling 314-361-2881.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Union Avenue Opera's "Das Rheingold"

Bass-Baritone Kevin Misslich (Wotan)
Baritone Jordan Shanahan (Alberich)
Photo © Ron Lindsey, 2012, All rights reserved.
Union Avenue Opera has begun its four-year odyssey of presenting Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen in a production adapted and reduced by British composer Jonathan Dove. The first opera of the Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold, opens in less than two weeks.

A saga of monumental proportion replete with giants, gods, goddesses and a dragon, Das Rheingold opens in the waters of the river Rhine, where three Rhinemaidens guard the river’s magical gold. Enraged by their scorn, conniving dwarf Alberich steals enough of this precious metal to forge a ring that gives its bearer unimaginable power. Meanwhile, Wotan and Loge, two powerful gods, conspire to steal the gold as ransom for the goddess Freia who has been kidnapped by the giants. The ensuing struggle for possession of the ring sets in motion a course of events that will alter the order of the universe and set the stage for the subsequent three operas (Die Walküre, 2013; Siegfried, 2014; Götterdämmerung, 2015).

Set Under Construction
Photo © Patrick Huber, 2012, All rights reserved.
Cast and crew arrived in St. Louis last week to begin rehearsals. Expect to see and hear some familiar artists including Soprano Joy Boland as Freia, Bass-Baritone Todd von Felker as the giant Fasolt, Mezzo-soprano Elise Quagliata as Fricka, Bass-Baritone Kevin Misslich as Wotan, Baritone Jordan Shanahan as the dwarf Alberich as well as several artists making their UAO debut. 

Set Under Construction
Photo © Patrick Huber, 2012, All rights reserved.
Making her UAO debut, stage director Karen Coe Miller promises a multi-media production of Das Rheingold utilizing several projections and lighting effects to evoke the opera's fantasy world. Set crews have been hard at work building Patrick Huber's multi-leveled set design.

Stay tuned to Operatic Saint Louis for so much more on UAO's Das Rheingold, including several educational opportunities and a reception to mingle with cast, crew and fellow operagoers. Also, don't forget to connect to Union Avenue Opera on Facebook and Twitter to play trivia for fun and prizes in the "Countdown to Wagner" leading up to Opening Night!

Das Rheingold opens August 17 and runs August 18, 24 and 25 at Union Avenue Opera, 733 N. Union Blvd. All performance begin at 8:00pm. Production sung in German with projected English supertitles. Tickets may be purchased online at www.unionavenueopera.org or by calling 314-361-2881.