[ WEEKEND ]
Opera season opens Drama, love, lust, revenge and we definitely mustn't overlook tragedy and death. These references may remind you of a favorite soap opera, but Hawaii Opera Theatre offers the real deal in its 42nd season, featuring "Eugene Onegin," "The Magic Flute," and "La Boheme."
‘Eugene Onegin’ is
filled with emotion
By Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com
This season's theme is "coming of age" -- that bittersweet period filled with grand optimism and, for the unlucky, grave misfortune.
Where: Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall 'Eugene Onegin'
When: 8 p.m. today, 4 p.m. Sunday and at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Tickets: $27 to $95
Call: 596-7858; from neighbor islands call 800-836-7372
Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" was first performed in Moscow in 1879. The last time this tale of love and betrayal was seen locally was about 18 years ago. This performance marks the first time HOT will be performing the opera in its native Russian language.
"Onegin is staple fare and it's a good opera, and it hasn't been seen here a lot," said Henry Akina, HOT's artistic director. "We figured doing it for the first time in Russian would be pretty interesting. It's a challenge for all of us."
While many American companies started singing the operas in English to expand their audience, the tendency today is to perform operas in their original language to give the audience a sense of the real music, he said, while utilizing projected subtitles for comprehension.
"When you put things in the English language, the musical life of the voice goes all haywire."
The system is working rather well, he said. "Even the old chorus ladies in the chorus who are cursing me for making them do this have actually risen to the challenge and are proud of themselves."
Vera Danchenko-Stern, who teaches classes on "how to sing in Russian" at the Peabody Conservatory at John Hopkins University, is assisting with the Russian diction. "We are much more familiar with Italian, French and German operas," explained Akina.
Onegin is a co-production with the Atlanta Opera, considered to be one of the most exciting companies working today, said Akina. "We are happy to benefit from that energy."
PHOTOS BY GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@ STAR-BULLETIN. COM
Hawaii Opera Theatre begins its 42nd season with Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin." The production is being done entirely in its original language -- Russian.
THE OPERA BEGINS with the bored aristocrat Onegin rejecting Tatiana to flirt with her sister, Olga, the fiancee of his best friend, Lenski. Lenski is enraged by his friend's advances and challenges him to a duel. Onegin kills Lenski and sentences himself into exile as a punishment. When he discovers he does love Tatiana, it is too late. She has become a princess who remains true to her husband and sends Onegin on his way.
Adapted by Tchaikovsky from Alexander Pushkin's classic poem, "Eugene Onegin" stars baritone David Templeton as the title character, soprano Aimee Willis as Tatiana, mezzo-soprano Elena Bocharova as Olga and George Dyer as Lenski.
"Lots of people go to the symphony to listen to Tchaikovsky or to see "The Nutcracker" every year, but they should also know him as an opera composer," said Akina. "We have been looking around, trying to do justice to operas that have not recently been added to our repertoire," he added. Last year, "Salome" was a good example.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@ STAR-BULLETIN. COM
Lenski (George Dyer, center) introduces Eugene Onegin (David Templeton, right) to Tatiana (not pictured) but Onegin falls for Lenski's fiancee, Olga, instead. Also pictured is Tatiana's mother (Judith Christin).
Life imitates art
While working on "Eugene Onegin," Peter Tchaikovsky received a letter from a young woman similar to the one Tatiana writes to Onegin professing her love. Like Onegin, he told her he could not love her.With Tatiana from the opera on his mind, he proposed to the woman a week later, even though his sexual preference was otherwise. They married in July of 1877, and Tchaikovsky left for a "cure in the Caucasus" shortly thereafter.
He was forced to return to Moscow in September for school. Unable to endure his wife, he attempted suicide, then ran off to St. Petersburg in a state of nervous collapse. A specialist recommended he never see his wife again. His brother arranged for a separation and took Tchaikovsky off to Western Europe.
The source of the opera is a long poem by the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, the Shakespeare of Russian literature. Pushkin's mother, Nadezhda Osipovna, was the granddaughter of Abram Petrovich Gannibal. Abram was an African slave who was the godson and a favorite of Peter the Great.
Like Tchaikovsky, his life is reflected in the characters of Onegin and Lenski. Pushkin died at the age of 38 after losing a duel with a man making inappropriate advances on his wife.
You don't want to face the opera on an empty stomach. All that sound and fury, music and mayhem -- you need your insides nicely weighted down. To that end, 18 restaurants in the vicinity of the Blaisdell Concert Hall are offering fixed-price opera-night dinners. Eateries offer
opera dinners
By Betty Shimabukuro
betty@starbulletin.comThese meals are designed to be served and eaten in less than an hour, for less than $20 per person, so you'll get to the theater on time, with money in your pocket for a glass of wine at intermission.
What do you get? For example, the Pineapple Room inside Macy's at Ala Moana offers a choice of two menus for $19.95: Kalua Pig Caesar Salad and Steamed Mahi Mahi "Chinese Style" or a Pineapple Room House Salad and Huli-Huli-Spiced or Kiawe-Grilled Chicken. Iced tea or coffee is included.
Also participating: Aaron's Atop the Ala Moana, 3660 on the Rise, Brew Moon Restaurant & Microbrewery, Buca di Beppo, Cafe Sistina, California Beach Rock N' Sushi, Chart House, Compadres Bar & Grill, Dave & Buster's, Jose's Cafe & Cantina, Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steak House, Mediterraneo Italian Restaurant, Outback Steakhouse, Palomino Restaurant, Ryan's Grill, Sarento's Top of the I and Sunset Grill.
Specials are available on Tuesday and Friday performance nights, except that some restaurants will not participate on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14.
More adventure
awaits during the
upcoming HOT season
>> Spirits, snakes, lions and a magical instrument take to the stage in Mozart's comedic opera "The Magic Flute." The fairy-tale adventure demonstrates the struggle between good and the forces of evil. Mozart's piece, known as "Die Zauberflote," was first seen in 1791 and comes complete with a happy ending. In it, a young couple -- Tamino and Pamina -- face many trials, realizing they must give up their freedom for the sake of their love."The Magic Flute" stars tenor Justin Vickers as Tamino, Jacqueline Venable as Pamina, baritone Leon Williams as Papageno and Lea Woods Friedman as Papagena. The opera is a co-production with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Edmonton Opera and Opera Columbus. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. Feb. 14, 4 p.m. Feb. 16 and at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18. The opera is performed in German with English supertitles.
>> On the other hand, no happy ending awaits in "La Boheme," HOT's final production for the season. The classic tale is set in Paris where the painter Marcello and poet Rodolfo -- having an affair with Mimi -- are struggling to survive the winter.
Mimi eventually leaves but returns to Rodolfo, whom she loves but who can't afford the medicine she needs to stay alive.
Tenor Jay Hunter Morris plays Rodolfo, baritone Quinn Kelsey stars as Marcello, Wilbur Pauley plays Colline and soprano Juliana Rambaldi sings the part of Mimi. Henry Akina is the artistic director of Puccini's opera. "La Boheme" is a co-production with Opera Memphis. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. Feb. 28, 4 p.m. March 2 and at 7:30 p.m. on March 4 and 6.
Click for online
calendars and events.
