ByKathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Sacristan the Priest, played by John Mount, in the opera
'Tosca" that opens January 31 at Blaisdell Concert Hall.
In addition to his duties as new general and artistic director of the Hawaii Opera Theatre, Akina is directing the company's production of Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca." His philosophy of directing centers on collaborating with singers and forging bonds with audiences.
"I'd be very happy if people came to Tosca and were thrilled, elated, awed by the confrontation with passions and the confrontation between politics and art ... which Puccini really takes apart in this score."
According to Akina, "Tosca" is sometimes seen as an overwrought melodrama and a source of opera house horror stories. He has tried to keep away from the sensational cliches, and bring out the human side of the characters.
Otherwise, he said, the opera "can be about two large singing animals that go at each other in the second act, and the larger one wins." And something simple like the Sacristan's nervous tic can turn into "an epileptic spasm."
"One of the things we've been working on in rehearsal is to create the sense of immediacy, the sense of urgency, the sense of clarity of conflict between art and power."
The effectiveness of "Tosca" depends on the three leads in the sinister triangle. He and the singers have formed a productive collaboration, and somewhat of a mutual admiration society.
Sharon Spinetti, who sings the title role, said working with Akina has been "wonderful." He "is extremely kind to everyone across the board."
Robert McFarland, who plays police chief Scarpia, said, "We are blessed ... to have directors like Henry who are theatrical in approach ... Opera is becoming more of a theatrical animal; it is no longer 'hold your arm out and sing.' "
Tenor Gary Rideout, as the artist Cavaradossi, also appreciates Akina's theatricality.
Mark Yasuhara, who plays Sciaronne, one of Scarpia's oily spies, said, "Henry's direction has elevated him to a major role. Or at least that's how I feel."
As all the performers do, Akina loves the HOT chorus. "One of the things we seem to see again and again is that somehow Hawaii tends to bring out the best in people," he said. "The chorus work here is just stupendous. The chorus wants to work."
He contrasts this with an experience he had working with a prominent East German opera chorus. After a day's rehearsal, "I felt like I'd been driving a truck ... Things that took them weeks of rehearsal happen here in the space of hours."
Next year, Akina will tackle Giuseppe Verdi's dark "MacBeth." He plans to direct one HOT production per season, saying, "Directing can be a very renewing experience. And I've found that some of the frustration that the manager Akina feels goes away when I go to rehearsal. So instead of going to the rehearsals as work, I've been going to them more as therapy and rejuvenation."
What: Hawaii Opera Theatre presents "Tosca," in which corrupt police chief Scarpia uses a revolutionary artist to reach the woman they both love