Opera Western Reserve presents 'La Boheme'

By L. CROW VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT The newly formed Opera Western Reserve will soon proudly present their second production, "La Boheme" Giacomo Puccini's popular opera will be performed at the recently refurbished Stambaugh Auditorium on November 11. "The opera will be set in the 1890s, beginning on Christmas Eve in Paris." said David Vosburgh, stage director and scenic designer. "It was originally written to be performed in an earlier period, but now we perform it in the period it was written. The costumes will be simpler to work in: bustles rather than hoop skirts, and lots of ruffles, velvet, top hats for the men." The set design, and especially the costumes are in the style of Toulouse-Lautrec. "He was a popular artist of the time, and painted the artists' scene--cabarets, actors--we identify him with that place and period," Vosburgh said. "His color palette was just a little 'off.' His reds were not primary, but a little orange, his blues a little green. It is easy to use his paintings as a resource for costumes. The set is a unit that will be used for all four acts. The colors are taken from Toulouse-Lautrec. The scene changes will be done quickly and easily in front of the audience by the characters onstage. And we are so grateful to be able to perform at Stambaugh, this beautiful, gorgeous 'Parthenon.' Most small, local opera companies perform in high school auditoriums. We are starting at the top. 'La Boheme' will be a visual experience." And, of course, it will be an auditory and emotional experience, too, Vosburgh adds. "This opera was written in the 'verismo' style of the late 1800s," he said. "Realism comes onstage, rather than the theatrical. People behave with normal emotions and personalities. It was the avante garde of the time, depicting struggling artists. It is romantic, visceral, very accessible, about love, jealousy, cheating, making up. And there were shocking, racy parts for the people of the time -- people living together without being married. And these were exotic artists -- not your next-door neighbor. Puccini wrote beautiful, emotional music, glorious melodies." "The orchestral music captures the emotional state of the characters," says Misook Yun, Associate Professor at YSU, who sings the lead female role of Mimi. "The audience will recognize the characters by the melodies." Mimi;, who is a seamstress, and makes artificial flowers, comes to Rodolfo's apartment to get light for her candle. While she is there, she faints, then loses her keys. When she goes homes and realizes her keys are missing, she comes back, and she and Rodolfo fall in love. Rodolfo, a struggling free-lance poet and writer, is played by Christian Soebek, of New York. By Act 3, Mim & igrave; and Rodolfo are fighting. "He is severely jealous, and Mim & igrave; talks to Marcello, a painter, and Rodolfo's best friend," says Yun. "They decide to make up and stay together, but Rodolfo wants Mim & igrave; to find a rich man who can take care of her. She is becoming ill and will eventually die of consumption. It was typical for people of the time to only live to their 30s or 40s." "This is not a 'park and bark' opera," Vosburgh said. "It will not be just standing there and singing. The performers all know their way around a stage, and will bring the characters to life. It is no longer enough to just have a beautiful voice -- there must be some stage-wise ability. 'La Boh & egrave;me' was recently done as a Broadway production, eight shows a week with three different casts." Puccini wrote this opera based on the book "La Vie de Boh;me" by Henri Murger. "His friend Leoncavallo had actually begun an opera based on the book, and showed the score to Puccini," said Vosburgh. "Later, Puccini's publisher, Ricordi, urged him write 'La Boh & egrave;me' and when he did, he stole lines from Leoncavallo. This quickly ended their friendship." Yun has performed this opera many times, but says she is still moved by its beauty. "It is very accessible, great for first time goers," she said. "I still cry when I listen to it. It is very emotional." The opera will be sung in its original Italian, but with projected supertitles in English. It is not long, in four acts, but will be performed in two parts, with one intermission. In addition to the main six roles, there will be a children's choir, from Girard City Schools, and a chorus made up of YSU theater and music students, some Youngstown Symphony Chorus members, and other community members. The orchestra will be conducted by music director Susan Davenny Wyner, who also directs the Warren Philharmonic. "Susan is very aware of what is happening in the pit and onstage," said Vosburgh. "She also had a career as a singer at The Metropolitan Opera, so she has an appreciation and sympathy of what singers go through, and an understanding of their requirements." The opera orchestra will be comprised of local symphony members. In addition, they will also be employing as first clarinetist, John Reeks, a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic, displaced by Hurricane Katrina. XOne performance only will take place at Stambaugh Auditorium at 8 p.m. Nov. 11. The Giorgio Tozzi Scholarship Gala Dinner will begin at 6 p.m., to benefit the Tozzi Scholarship Fund. For more information, (330) 480-0693, or visit www.operawesternreserve.org or email operawesternreserve@hotmail.com.