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Berkeley Opera celebrates 30th anniversary with peace and love forevermore (Part 3 of 3)
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Ruth Ann Swenson and Duana Demus-Leslie. Photo: Carter Krizman
Berkeley Opera concluded it's 30th anniversary celebration last Sunday evening with the entire cast on stage for the grand finale from Die Fledermaus. Brotherhood and sisterhood rang out with the headliner Ruth Ann Swenson and the cast singing love and peace, no more war. Ching Chang caught on video, singing peace and love forevermore and holding up his lighter, bass baritone John Minagro.
Dui, Dui from Die Fledermaus or Bat out of Hell's Brotherhood
Yet brotherhood and sisterhood doesn't come easy. The second half of the evening resumes with Entr’acte to Act 3 from Carmen by the Berkeley Opera Orchestra. However the energy and tone on stage is about to turn from the first half and it's twisted sisters to the more testosterone driven, i.e. the men fight back.
Philip Skinner takes the stage for Mephisto’s Serenade from Faust. Kip Kranna emceed, describing the sardonic serenade beneath the window of Faust’s pregnant lover, Marguerite. He warns her not to open the door without a ring on her finger. Skinner has the best evil laugh.
The burly woodsman Benjamin Bongers with his flowing chestnut brown locks comes to the stage next with Marie Plette. It’s the love song Wintersturme and Du bist der Lenz from The Ring of the Nibelung. Wagner’s twins from Die Walkure have found each other in the forest. Illegitimate offspring of Wotan ruler of Valhalla, the twins were raised separately and didn’t even know about each other yet are irresistibly drawn to each other when they by chance meet. Sigmund is on the run from Sieglinde’s husband, who returns home but by the law of the forest must provide shelter to the stranger for the night. While he sleeps, Sieglinde and Sigmund see something in the other’s face and feel they are meant to be together . . . and indeed even these singers look enough alike to be brother and sister.
Note the Vogue Theater in San Francisco on Sacramento Street in the Fillmore or lower Pacific Heights will show Das Rheingold, the first story in the Ring Cycle on Sunday April 19.
When the love duet ends, only then does Kip Kranna quip did you know they are brother and sister? It’s a long story. He mentioned a redacted version though, speeding through Wagner in 3 ½ hours instead of 14 ½--that was done by Berkeley Opera in 2004. I once heard what one needs for Wagner is a stout pair of shoes.
Annalisa Winberg and her real life husband Roy Stevens followed suit with another Wagner number from the Ring Cycle, Zu neuen Taten.
Our Wagner moment followed with a quintet from Die Meistersinger with Jillian Khuner, Donna Olson, Benjamin Bongers, Roy Stevens and John Minagro.
Pedro Rodelas made his appearance with Ch’ella mi creda from The Girl of the Golden West by Puccini. SFO will stage the production this season. It’s one of those used as justification for creating an opera with Anna Nicole Smith. Pedro sings don’t tell Minnie of his sad fate, let her think he is free. This is another one of Scott Marley’s adaptations, I saw the libretto on the shelf at the Other Change of Hobbit.
However the love of and self sacrifice for the girl of the golden West is short lived. More of Philip Skinner’s devilish baritone laugh followed as he sang Dr. Miracle with the trio from Tales of Hoffman. The doctor convinces young Antonia to sing herself to death for the ghost of her famous mother. The woman next to Carter and I in the balcony church pew seemed to particularly enjoy that laugh. Accoustics are so good in the balcony.
The evening was coming to a conclusion with a secular oratorio called Endless Pleasure from Semele sung by Ruth Ann Swenson (representing the only Handel Berkeley produced in thirty years, Acis and Galatea in 2004). The harpsichord was fun and great for the imagination, immediately placing one in another time. Just before the big finish, Ruth Ann Swenson and the conductor Jonathan Khuner meet eyes. I liked the team spirit. The entire congregation worshipping at the alter of Ruth Ann took to their feet and applauded.
Note if you like Handel, the Biblical Wicked Queen comes to this same venue, Berkeley's First Congregational Church, Saturday and Sunday evenings April 18 and 19.
The entire cast emerged for a waltzing encore, Dui, Dui (Brotherhood in Scott Marley’s version) from Die Fledermaus . A song calling for brotherhood, sisterhood, love and peace. Donna Olson the mezzo standing next to the dashing Pedro provided a Berkeley moment. The singers called for love, love, love so she moved in closer and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. Make love not war. Things have not changed much in thirty years have they.
Later at the reception I caught up with Donna, about the last to leave, and asked her what it's like to perform pants roles. She was using the bodice of her gown, well her cleavage actually, as a cup holder for her champagne flute. Carter took video. Can we print that I asked him?
Cheers.
For more info: www.BerkeleyOpera.org, www.voguesf.com
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