A Smattering of Crosses

Houston Grand Opera's 5 acter DON CARLOS sung in the long original (1887 ? version) French, boasts crosses. Lots of them.
Black ones, small ones,  big ones!
Red ones, and red ones glowing ominously in the dark.

Stark, dark, ominous and threatening.
Fitting sets to the dark, ominous and strong music Verdi composed for this tragedy in 5 acts set during the deepest gloom in Spanish history- the inquisition after a play by Schiller.
The most glorious voices were assembled as cast.
From Soprano Tamara Wilson's silvery yet big voiced Elisabeth to the deepest male voices.
Yes, the basses were upfront on stage here.
From the veteran Samuel Ramey as the Grand Inquisitor who trumps everyone and everything singing gravelly with power (at age 70 yet); via Oren Gradus, a truly sepulchral spirit of Charles V; and Andrea Silvistrelli as Philippe II, the tortured father and anguished husband of Elisabeth, who was originally slated to be his own son's fiancee, to the lighter voiced Boris Dyakov, as always so elegant, as Count Lerme.

The baritones did not stay far behind.
The dramatically sung and especially acted Marquis Posa of Scott Hendricks was  rather emotional to behold. Mark Diamond's Forester showcased his fresh baritone voice in this cameo role.

But the glory of the show went, without hesitations to the 3 main characters.
Soprano Wilson, a regal and yet very sympathetic Elisabeth, trying to uphold her vows.
Christine Goerke,  as Countess Eboli, embodied unrequited love scorned and turned to vicious hatred with a powerful mezzo. But was equally believable in her solo O don fatale, bemoaning her fatal beauty and atoning for her misdeeds.

And Brandon Jovanovich  as Don Carlos used his amazingly big ringing tenor voice to portray love, desire, desperation, resolution and friendship. And his good looks did not hurt at all. He was undoubtedly easily accepted as the love interest of 2 beautiful and powerful women, plus the inspiration of devotion by his best friend.

In other cameos we heard the fine soprano Brittany Wheeler as celestial voice, soprano Lauren Snouffer in the travesty role of Thibault, page ot Elisabeth, Scott Quinn as King's Herald and Judith Irvington as Countess Aremberg.
The HGO orchestra was led by Maestro Summers with sensitivity, while  Chorus Master Bado, as usual, had the HGO chorus singing uniformly with beauty.

Direction by John Caird who placed singers well on stage easily viewed from most seats in the house, (sitting on side orchestra I can attest to that). The set of crosses in all forms and colors was by Johan Engels, well highlighted by lighting designer Levings. Choreography by Sayers.

And now I come to the crux (truly cross to bear, IMO) of the matter:
 the costuming by Oberle!
A terrible mish mash of traditional, modernized (but from which decades?) customes. costumes.
The chorus women's royal blues in various shades at least were becoming.
Elisabeth's dresses were y demonstrative of her role as innocent princess and later wronged queen.
Eboli's simply did not convey the countess's implied (O don fatale! remember) attraction. Oh my, that insipid pink at first.
Later the deeply decolletage'd black lace (a midi-skirted fifties look?) did give perhaps a slight hint of a night of debauchery with the King!

But the men's.
Deliver me from the men's.
From Don Carlos' first appearance in a semblance of Raiders of the Lost Ark get up, to his later costume reminiscent of Pontevedrian counts, with perhaps a soupcon of Mikado thrown in; to the gangster (not gangsta - thank heavens) look complete with black fedoras of the male court, and finally the black stormtrooper looks of the jailers and guards, IMO caused hysterical rather than sinister impressions and seemed, to me, without rhyme nor reason.

Oh, I should not forget the red "Ku Klux clannishly" (:-) clad inquisition executioners. While the Grand Inquisitor was cardinally (lol) dressed simply in black with purple sash and scull cap.

The production by HGO is worth going to, just to the hear the original opera composed by Verdi for the French in the French language (later it was translated into multiple versions, shortened, and re-shortened LOL into Italian which IMO sounds more suited to Verdian Music). But the singers overall did a magnificent job singing en Francais, in French that was actually understood rather well by those in the audience who have knowledge of that tongue, moi included!

"The Rape of Lucretia",

Botticelli-Death of Lucretia

Chamber Opera by Benjamin Britten as performed by the singers of Houston Grand Opera under the Direction of Arin Arbus" (freely after Peter Weiss) and the Conductor Rory MacDonald with Sets by Jean-Guy Lecat, costumes Anita Yavich and lightening by Michael James Clark. I just felt the plain The Rape Of Lucretia was not title enough :-) for such BIG :-) yet intimate, though moralizing opera, albeit set to often beautiful lyrical music with the occasional thundering passages played by just 14 musicians who are getting star status on the program, and well earned IMO!

HGO has outdone itself with this relatively unknown Britten piece.  With just 8 singers, everyone needs to be outstanding, there is no hiding among a crowd. And indeed they are. Very good! Certainly a piece that will catch your imagination, engage your ears, and leave you wanting to hear more of the rather sublime music.

Casting the male chorus with tenor Antony Dean Griffey
(as Peter Grimes, Lenny) was a stroke of genius. Griffey,well known for his deeply felt characters, was superb. Ably matched by the female chorus soprano Leah Crocetto.

The 6 protagonists were sung and acted by Ryan McKinny, warm bass bariton=Collatinus,

Joshua Hopkins, fullvoiced bariton=Junius,

Jacques Imbrailo, bariton=Tarquinius, and
Michelle DeYoung, dramatic mezzosoprano=Lucretia.
A well matched set of voices, with the ability of expressing the pains and joys imagined by the composer.
Judith Forst, mezzosoprano=Bianca and
Lauren Snouffer, lyrical soprano=Lucia and the only high voice in the opera, completed the small cast.

For me it was gratifying to see 2 Studio alumni (McKinny and Hopkins) and 1 current member (Snouffer) shine on stage. Holding their own against the more veteran singers.
And as it is often with Britten, we come away from it with our imagination fired up, and questions. Perhaps more so with Turn of the Screw, Peter Grimes than with The Rape of Lucretia.
But one thing, to me essential to better understand and enjoy his works, is the need to revisit his operas another time, maybe even several times!

Photo Post January 14 -17, 2012

Potluck Scene 1/14/12 for Opera in the Heights Guild and artists

The Met's Regional Competition In San Antonio 1/15/12

The Finalists and Judges

Soprano ( Co winner) Snouffer, A Judge, Baritones Dyakov and Diamond, Pianist, Tenor Touhy

The busload of HGO Buddies with  Studio Member Snouffer!

 Celebrating the Wright Goal

Taylor "Tebowing?"

Above and below: From the Rampage vs Heat game on 1/16/12
with emphasis on Krys Kolanos as a favor for his true blue Houston fans :-)

Kolanos hopping on the ice

KK at Face Off

KK in action behind Grumet Morris net

Goal by Heat or not? NOT!

A 'little' defense of Danny Taylor?

Believe it or not, KK in a scuffle

On 1/17/12 shopping for wines and crocs!

Driftwood at Driftwood Vinery

Bare Vines staked below Driftwood Vinery
And no, we did not buy all the wines produced last fall... just a  mixed dozen.



And FINALLY: a couple familiar Faces behind the bench !

Opera and Hockey

well, sort of.
On Saturday we held the Opera in the Heights "potluck' and a nice time was had by all with lots of laughs, hugs with old favorites and happy getting to know you for newcomers singing in Anna Bolena.

Yesterday afternoon Better Half and I listened, at times rather spellbound, to 8 finalists in the Regional Competition for a spot to compete in the Nationals at the Metropolitan Operas Young artists program later this spring.
4 of the finalists represented the HGO Opera Studio. And who were enthusiastically supported by a busload of Houston buddies and opera lovers, plus several who drove their own cars (as we did).
But only one made it. Coloratura Soprano Lauren Snouffer shared first place with the more  dramatic soprano Annamarie Zmolek.
The sole tenor (HGO Studio)  of the 8 finalists, who seemed to have enchanted the audience of opera cognoscenti and just opera lovers, did not get even a mention. Even though his selection was unusual and not only sung beautifully but who also showed great stage presence!
Other than of course, that all 8 finalists were lauded as having big talents with huge promise!
It doesn't matter. It was an enjoyable afternoon.

Then on to the Ranch for a relaxing night to be ready for tonight's Rampage versus Abbotsford Heat contest.  Rampage 2 : Heat 1.
Of which I shall post briefly..
with photos (albeit with just a little point and shot of less than 3 inch long lens which falls within the allowed length for non-media or professional picture takers) to be posted after returning to my desk top.
This little net book is incapable to receive uploads..

The Rampage peppered Danny Taylor of HEAT with 31 shots 28 of which he saved.
Grumet Morris, who has grown since I saw him first time, stopped 25 of 26 and even had a spectacular belly flop kinda save...rather unexpected and not seen before from this net minder.

Amazingly, Kolanos was on the ice continuously or so it sure seemed, but had ONLY 4 sogs.
While his teammate Nigerian born (?) speedy 'Gonzalez' Akim Aliu had 5, one the only goal for the Heat.

So, with this second in row loss by Heat during a 3 on 3 weekend (they must have been tired, but sure did not look it) and the loss by Texas to Rockford, Aeros are again in 2. place with 51  points and equal number games (40) played to OKC 53 and  3. placed Heat 51.

Well,  back to the game.
The first period was exciting! Red (jerseys) Heat taking on the 'Caliente' Rampage.
Lots of fast paced skating, good to great passing, energetic forechecking and hot defense.
One goal each. By Wright for Rampage, and Aliu for Heat.

The second was much less that. Seemed a bit 'blah' lacking some of that oomph that excites fans (4180 at the ATT).
As incredible as it sounds both teams had huge opportunities to score but were stopped effectively by both goalies. Only Ex- Aeros Mark Cullen was able to stuff one in on a rebound off his stick in the rather exciting 3. period.

Throughout I was surprised how few passes were sent Krys Kolanos' way by his team mates.
And equally surprised by the speed and accuracy exhibited by Akim Aliu!
Rampage players appeared to take KK's presence on the ice personally and made hampering him from scoring a priority. Just saying :-).

Of course died-in-the-wool Rampage fans may not agree.

The 2 Refs and their 2 aides, blew many whistles, but only 8 penalties.
3 on Rampage - no PP goal for Heat. 5 on Heat and one of that became one goal for Rampage!
It seemed to me that there were many 'commercial breaks' which halted the flow of the game which then took awhile to be resumed.
But it was overall a good game, especially nice to see 2 familiar faces behind the bench of the Heat! Ward and Strand.
For photos... come visit  here Tuesday late night or Wednesday morning!
Because tomorrow we will be wine tasting (and buying-lol).
And shopping at Tanger Outlets  !!!! on the way ho on a predicted to be splendid sunny warm day.