Skylark Opera's promising two-show summer festival
By WILLIAM RANDALL BEARD, Special to the Star Tribune
June 18, 2008
Skylark Opera is to be applauded for trying to expand its audience beyond aficionados of operetta by staging a diverse summer festival, pairing Victor Herbert's classic "Naughty Marietta" with the area premiere of Ned Rorem's 2006-premiered "Our Town," based on Thornton Wilder's play. Ambitions aside, the company is on firmer artistic footing with the Herbert.
"Naughty Marietta," the story of an Italian countess who disguises herself as a commoner in 1803 New Orleans, may be a silly trifle, but Skylark's production whipped it into a delicious confection. The tale of pirates, soldiers and maidens was a wonderful romp, with everyone onstage, and in the audience, having a marvelous time.
Director Robert Neu maintained a firm hand on the material. He deftly balanced the romance and comedy, not letting the swashbuckling become camp and keeping the love story from becoming cloying.
Norah Long was dazzling as Marietta. With her brilliant soprano and facility for coloratura, it would be hard to imagine a finer performance of such classic songs as "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life." She created a vivid character full of wit and spunk.
As the hero and villain, tenor Robb Asklof and baritone Peter Halverson were not quite in her league. But they framed her nicely and make the triangle credible.
Artistic director Steve Stucki conducted "Our Town" with sensitivity, though there were some problems with balance, with the orchestra occasionally overpowering the singers. Jeff Stirling gave an idiomatic reading of "Naughty Marietta."
All misgivings aside, this Summer Festival is a bold and exciting new venture for Skylark. It leaves me eagerly looking forward to 2009.
William Randall Beard is a Minneapolis writer.
©2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
[return to Naughty Marietta press page]
June 18, 2008
Skylark Opera is to be applauded for trying to expand its audience beyond aficionados of operetta by staging a diverse summer festival, pairing Victor Herbert's classic "Naughty Marietta" with the area premiere of Ned Rorem's 2006-premiered "Our Town," based on Thornton Wilder's play. Ambitions aside, the company is on firmer artistic footing with the Herbert.
"Naughty Marietta," the story of an Italian countess who disguises herself as a commoner in 1803 New Orleans, may be a silly trifle, but Skylark's production whipped it into a delicious confection. The tale of pirates, soldiers and maidens was a wonderful romp, with everyone onstage, and in the audience, having a marvelous time.
Director Robert Neu maintained a firm hand on the material. He deftly balanced the romance and comedy, not letting the swashbuckling become camp and keeping the love story from becoming cloying.
Norah Long was dazzling as Marietta. With her brilliant soprano and facility for coloratura, it would be hard to imagine a finer performance of such classic songs as "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life." She created a vivid character full of wit and spunk.
As the hero and villain, tenor Robb Asklof and baritone Peter Halverson were not quite in her league. But they framed her nicely and make the triangle credible.
Artistic director Steve Stucki conducted "Our Town" with sensitivity, though there were some problems with balance, with the orchestra occasionally overpowering the singers. Jeff Stirling gave an idiomatic reading of "Naughty Marietta."
All misgivings aside, this Summer Festival is a bold and exciting new venture for Skylark. It leaves me eagerly looking forward to 2009.
William Randall Beard is a Minneapolis writer.
©2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
[return to Naughty Marietta press page]