A dark, driven "Rigoletto" at Union Avenue Opera

Jordan Shanahan and Lacy Sauter
Photo: John Lamb

Union Avenue Opera is following up on its highly praised "Don Giovanni" with an impressive production of Verdi's 1851 tragedy, "Rigoletto." From the ominous brass fanfares that open the prelude to Rigoletto's final despairing howl of "La maledizione" ("the curse"), Tim Ocel's knowing direction drives this "Rigoletto" to its tragic conclusion with the relentless energy of a runaway train.

Implacably dark and menacing, this tale of men behaving incredibly badly is dominated by low voices—basses, baritones, contraltos, and mezzos. The prevalence of those darker and richer sounds is a characteristically smart theatrical decision by Verdi; it lends a sense of inescapable weight to the story of a revenge plot gone horribly wrong.

Jordan Shanahan and James Callon
Photo: John Lamb

That only works, of course, if you have strong singers for those roles. Happily Union Avenue has them in abundance here, with pride of place going to baritone Jordan Shanahan in the title role. If you've seen UAO's "Rheingold," "Siegfried," or "Dead Man Walking," you already now that Mr. Shanahan boasts both a big, wide-ranging voice (with solid bottom notes that sound more like the work of a bass-baritone) and an approach to acting that allows him to completely inhabit his characters. His horror movie makeup is so obviously artificial that it's a bit distracting, but the fierce commitment of his performance makes that a minor issue.

As the feckless (if not downright sociopathic) Duke who callously seduces, assaults, and then abandons Rigoletto's daughter Gilda, tenor James Callon is just as smugly repellent as he should be. He had a couple of rough notes in the second and third acts on opening night, but otherwise sang with admirable clarity garnering the expected applause with popular arias like "La donna è mobile".

James Callon and Mark Freiman
(rear)
Photo: John Lamb

Soprano Lacy Sauter, who was such a heartbreaking Blanche in "Streetcar Named Desire" last season, returns to UAO as Gilda, whose absurdly self-sacrificing nature leads to the opera's tragic conclusion. The very implausibility of the character is, in my view, a real obstacle for any actress, but Ms. Sauter manages to pull it off with a convincing characterization and a voice that easily navigates the coloratura passages in the famous "Caro nome" aria in Act I.

Bass-baritone Patrick Blackwell is the doomed Count Monterone, whose dying curse falls heavily on Rigoletto and bass Mark Freiman is the ironically principled assassin Sparafucile. They're both compelling actors, with big, powerful voices that fill the UAO space. There's fine singing as well by Mezzo Kristee Haney, darkly seductive as Sparafucile's sister and partner in crime Maddalena.

This is, in short, a very strong cast, right down to the smallest walk-ons. That includes Debby Lennon as Gilda's nurse Giovanna, Andy Papas as the put-upon Count Ceprano, Anthony Heinemann the sneering courtier Borsa, and Robert Garner as Marullo, whose momentary attack of conscience, while not explicitly called out in the libretto, nevertheless makes good dramatic sense.

Patrick Blackwell
Photo: John Lamb

Union Avenue's chorus sings with impressive power and clarity. Under Scott Schoonover's usual expert direction the orchestra sounds impressive despite its small size and the vocal/instrumental balance is quite good.

Tim Ocel has demonstrated on more than one occasion that he knows how to handle the unique demands of the operatic stage—most recently in UAO's stunning "La Traviata" last season. He has done it again with this "Rigoletto," maintaining a sense of tragic inevitability while still allowing the big musical moments to breathe.

Kristee Haney and Mark Freiman
Photo: John Lamb

Kyra Bishop's deliberately shabby set with its peeling plaster and exposed lathe and Teresa Doggett's intentionally drab costumes (only Rigoletto has any real color) are presumably intended to underline the moral decay that pervades Francesco Maria Piave's libretto. If so, they do the job admirably. Paige Seber's lighting, however, is so dim that faces are sometimes lost. I'm not sure that the darkness of "Rigoletto" needs to be that visible.

Union Avenue Opera's admirable "Rigoletto" runs through August 9th at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. The opera is sing in Italian with projected English text. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8, although given that parking on the lot is at a premium, you'll want to get there by 7:30 if possible. For more information, visit the company's web site.

This review originally appeared at 88.1 KDHX, where Chuck Lavazzi is the senior performing arts critic.

Union Avenue Opera: 20th Anniversary Season

Union Avenue Opera celebrates 20 years of bringing compelling, vibrant performances of opera to the St. Louis community from the sanctuary of Union Avenue Christian Church. UAO's 20th Anniversary Festival Season is full of excitement: the sets will be grander, the costumes more opulent, and our largest chorus to date will grace the stage as the company returns to a three opera summer to mark this milestone year. This season is not to be missed! Join us for the romance and tragedy of Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata presented by Raymond James, the passionate family drama of Andre Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire and the heroic adventure of Siegfried, the third part of Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle. On November 8th, Union Avenue Opera will celebrate 20 years and toast its friends, patrons, supporters and cheerleaders with a 20th Anniversary Concert featuring international opera singers Lise Lindstrom and Jordan Shanahan.

THE REPERTOIRE

La Traviata, one of the most beloved tragedies in opera, tells the story of a worldly courtesan, Violetta, who decides to leave her life of glamour and frivolity behind for the love of one man, Alfredo. Returning to Union Avenue Opera after twelve years, La Traviata depicts the ultimate operatic life, one filled with grand parties, grander sacrifices, and some of Verdi's most memorable music, including the drinking song "Libiamo" and Violetta's virtuosic "Sempre libera." Both long time opera lovers and first-timers will be captivated by this irresistible classic. La Traviata will be performed in Italian with projected English supertitles on July 11, 12, 18 & 19 at 8:00pm.

Desire is taking on a new rhythm as Tennessee Williams' play sizzles onto the stage in the St. Louis Premiere of André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire. Set against the backdrop of steamy New Orleans, this scintillating Streetcar adds a new level of drama and excitement to Williams' enduring portrait of sex, class and secrets. Southern belle Blanche DuBois moves to her sister's cramped apartment, creating all the wrong kinds of sparks with her brutish brother-in-law Stanley. When dark truths about her past begin to emerge, Blanche's world comes apart at the seams in a spiral of violence and madness. A Streetcar Named Desire will be performed in English with projected English supertitles on August 1, 2, 8 & 9 at 8:00pm.

Wagner's epic Ring Cycle continues with the penultimate opera, Siegfried. Swords are re-forged, dragons slain, a sleeping maiden awakened, treasures reclaimed, and justice dispensed as the power of the gods continues to dwindle. The fearless hero Siegfried, grandson of Wotan, is destined for greatness as he faces a multitude of challenges, including winning the love of Brünnhilde. Siegfried is a wonderful fairytale with the requisite happy ending ... for the moment at least. Siegfried is reduced and adapted by English composer Jonathan Dove. His masterful cuts condense the opera in length to under three hours and will be enhanced by video projections befitting the magnificent grandeur of the Ring Cycle. Siegfried will be performed in German with projected English supertitles on August 22, 23, 29 & 30 at 8:00pm.

20th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

Mark your calendar to join us on November 8th, when UAO alumni Lise Lindstrom and Jordan Shanahan return to our stage in a 20th Anniversary Concert. Since her debut as Turandot with UAO in 2004, Lindstrom has performed the role in over 30 productions world-wide and has sung leading roles in most of the world's great opera houses including: Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro alla Scala, The Metropolitan Opera, De Nederlandse Opera, Royal Opera House, Deutsche Oper Berlin, San Francisco Opera and many more. She will be joined onstage by Baritone Jordan Shanahan, an emerging international singer whose roles at Union Avenue Opera include Joseph DeRocher in Dead Man Walking and Alberich in 2012's Das Rheingold and this season's Siegfried. Soloists and a chorus will be backed by UAO's orchestra, whom has graciously donated its time and services to perform on this momentous occasion.

BEFORE THE FOOTLIGHTS

Union Avenue Opera welcomes back artists from seasons past:

La Traviata: Robert Garner (Germont), Debra Hillabrand (Flora), Mark Freiman (Barone Douphol), Robert Reed (Dottore Grenvil), Anthony Heinemann (Gastone), Jon Garrett (Giuseppe) and Philip Touchette (Messenger). A Streetcar Named Desire: Jimmy Stevens (Young Collector). Siegfried: Marc Schapman (Mime), David Dillard (The Wanderer), Jordan Shanahan (Alberich), Nathan Whitson (Fafner), Alexandra LoBianco (Brünnhilde), Cecelia Stearman (Erda) and Kate Reimann (Forest Bird).

Several artists make their UAO stage debut:

• Soprano Zulimar Lopez-Hernandez (Violetta)
• Tenor Riccardo Iannello (Alfredo)
• Baritone Phillip Bullock (Marquis D'Obigny).
• Soprano Lacy Sauter (Blanche DuBois)
• Baritone Bernardo Bermudez (Stanley Kowalski)
• Soprano Katherine Giaquinto (Stella Kowalski)
• Tenor Anthony Webb (Harold "Mitch" Mitchell)
• Mezzo-soprano Johanna Nordhorn (Eunice Hubbell)
• Tenor Robert Norman (Steve Hubbell)
• Mezzo-soprano Natanja Tomich (Flower Woman)
• Tenor Clay Hilley (Siegfried)

Twenty artists--local professional singers and members of UAO's Crescendo young artist program-- comprise the chorus of La Traviata.

IN THE PIT AND BEHIND THE SCENES

UAO Artistic Director and Conductor Scott Schoonover is set to conduct La Traviata and Siegfried this season. Guest Conductor Kostis Protopapas, who last conducted 2010's La fille du Régiment, returns to conduct A Streetcar Named Desire. Stage director Tim Ocel, who last staged Union Avenue Opera's critically-acclaimed Dead Man Walking in 2011, returns to stage La Traviata. Accomplished actor, theatre teacher and stage director Christopher Limber makes his UAO debut staging A Streetcar Named Desire. Stage director Karen Coe Miller, who helmed last season's Die Walküre, returns to stage Siegfried. MK Jacobi (Traviata), Claire Stark (Streetcar) and Allyson Ditchey (Siegfried) serve as Stage Managers. Sean Savoie serves as UAO Production Manager. The company welcomes back several designers to collaborate on the 2014 season including Patrick Huber (set, Traviata; set and lighting, Siegfried), Teresa Doggett (costumes for entire season) and Michael Perkins (projections, Siegfried).

Designers making their UAO debut: Maureen Berry (lighting, Traviata), Kyra Bishop (set, Streetcar) and Sean Savoie (lighting, Streetcar).

TICKETS & INFORMATION

La Traviata runs July 11, 12, 18 & 19 at 8:00pm. A Streetcar Named Desire runs August 1, 2, 8 & 9 at 8:00pm. Siegfried runs August 22, 23, 29 & 30 at 8:00pm. Our 20th Anniversary Concert takes place on November 8th. All performances take place in the sanctuary of Union Avenue Christian Church at 733 Union Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108. Single tickets and Season tickets (at discounted prices) are available by calling the UAO Box Office at 314-361-2881 or visiting unionavenueopera.org