How bubbly.Byline: Paul Denison The Register-Guard What starts out as a quiet night at home quickly becomes very exciting for Rosalinde in ``Die Fledermaus Die Fledermaus (English: The Bat lit. The Flutter-mouse) is a comic operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Carl Haffner and Richard Genée. (the Bat),'' a Johann Strauss operetta operetta (ŏpərĕt`ə), type of light opera with a frivolous, sentimental story, often employing parody and satire and containing both spoken dialogue and much light, pleasant music. that Eugene Opera has chosen to pop the cork on its season and the new year. When Rosalinde's husband goes off to jail, a former admirer comes calling. Then the police show up and arrest the gentleman caller Gentleman caller may refer to:
As they say in Vienna, ``Wazzup?'' Turns out that hubby and a buddy have skipped jail and gone straight to party. But the buddy, a revenge-seeking practical joker, has arranged for Rosalinde and her maid to show up as well. So much for the boys' night out. But artistic director Robert Ashens and stage director Joseph Bascetta both see ``Die Fledermaus'' as a perfect night out for men and women alike, an operetta as bubbly as the champagne that Rosalinde and company eventually blame for all that goes awry. Noting that Strauss' 1874 operetta has been called ``the world's largest on-stage party,'' Ashens thinks it's a perfect introduction to opera. ``It's accessible and light-hearted, but not ridiculous, as some operettas can be,'' he says. ``It's the greatest piece of its kind,'' Bascetta adds. "It's a wonderful theatrical piece with lovely music." And it perfectly sets the mood, Ashens says, for Eugene Opera's gala New Year's Eve party, a separate-admission event that will get under way in the Hult Center's Studio One not long after the slim lady sings Friday night. After the Jan. 2 matinee, everyone can forget the Atkins diet Atkins Diet Definition The Atkins diet is a high-protein, high-fat, and very low-carbohydrate regimen. It emphasizes meat, cheese, and eggs, while discouraging foods such as bread, pasta, fruit, and sugar. It is a form of ketogenic diet. for one more day and load up on carbs at a Viennese dinner at Christee's Restaurant, featuring Empire desserts by Anna Rossi. But we digress di·gress intr.v. di·gressed, di·gress·ing, di·gress·es To turn aside, especially from the main subject in writing or speaking; stray. See Synonyms at swerve. . No one needs a calorie counter on New Year's Eve weekend. But for "Die Fledermaus" a score card might help. The singers include tenor Paris Cheffer as Eisenstein, who sneaks off to party with his old friend Falke (baritone Charles Turley) when he should be reporting to serve a brief prison sentence, and tenor Ryan Clark Ryan Clark may refer to:
Baritone Sandy Naishtat plays the prison warden, and Eugene Ballet's Riley Grannan plays Frosch, the drunken jailer, who mistakenly arrest Alfredo instead of Eisenstein. Lyric mezzo-soprano mezzo-soprano: see soprano. Sonia Gariaeff plays Orlofsky, the bored count who throws the party, and soprano Kimarie Torre plays Adele, Rosalinde's maid. The cast also includes Anne Nykyforchyn Albert as Ida, John Boelling as Dr. Blind and Harold Turnquist as Ivan. Eugene Ballet The Eugene Ballet Company (EBC) is a ballet company based in Eugene, Oregon. It is a resident company of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. Under the Artistic Direction of Toni Pimble and Technical Director Jim Bradford, this 20-member ensemble performs a blend dancers Hyuk-Ku Kwonn and Jennifer Martin Jennifer Martin is an American voice actress who provides the voice of Ms. Sara Bellum, who is the Mayor of Townsville's assistant, in the Cartoon Network animated television series The PowerPuff Girls. also will perform. In a new twist for Eugene Opera, although it's more common in Europe, the cast will speak in English and sing in German. University of Oregon The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. The university was founded in 1876, graduating its first class two years later. The University of Oregon is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities. German instructor Matthias Vogel has been coaching them, and Bascetta has been showing them how to segue from dialogue to singing so the whole show flows. "It's different from operas," he says. "It's a different technique. It needs to seem natural." Bascetta helped start Fresno Grand Opera in 1999 and became its artistic director. His season, which begins with Eugene Opera's "Die Fledermaus," also will include "Pagliacci" and "Gianni Schicchi Gianni Schicchi is an opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano, based on a story that is referred to in Dante's The Divine Comedy. It is the third of the trio of operas known as Il trittico. " in Fresno (with Ashens conducting), "L'Italiana in Algeri L'italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) is an operatic dramma giocoso in two acts by Gioachino Rossini to an Italian libretto by Angelo Anelli, based on his earlier text set by Luigi Mosca. " for Opera Santa Barbara, "Turandot" in Fresno and "Tosca" for Shanghai Grand Opera. Ohmes, who will be making her Eugene Opera debut as Rosalinde, has sung the role before, with Greensboro Opera. Her future engagements include roles in "The Crucible" with Chautauqua Opera, Rossini's Stabat Mater with the Florida Bach Festival and "Fidelio" with San Francisco Opera San Francisco Opera (SFO) is the second largest opera company in North America. It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola (1881-1953). The Opening Night Gala of the San Francisco Opera is widely considered to be one of the most memorable events of the year for opera patrons. . Paris Cheffer's operatic roles have included Chris the Citizen in "Mother of Us All," Maximilian in "Candide" and Giorgio Bachetti in Stephen Sondheim's "Passion." Ashens, who will conduct the Eugene Opera Orchestra, is beginning his fifth season as artistic director and principal conductor. John Jantzi is the chorus master for "Die Fledermaus." PREVIEW Die Fledermaus What: Robert Ashens conducts Eugene Opera's production of the Johann Strauss operetta, with Joseph Bascetta as stage director When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 2 Where: Hult Center, Seventh Avenue and Willamette Street How much: $20 and $60 Friday; $15 and $55 Jan. 2 Special events: Backstage tour and rehearsal, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, free but R.S.V.P. to Eugene Opera (485-3985); New Year's Eve party, Hult Center's Studio One, $75 at the Hult Center or www.eugeneopera.com; Jan. 2 Viennese dinner at Christee's Restaurant, 2000 Cal Young Road, $50. CAPTION(S): From left: Charles Turley (plays Falke), Paris Cheffer (Eisenstein), Kimarie Torre (the Chambermaid), Jane Ohmes (Rosalinde), Sonia Gariaeff (Prince Orlofsky). Falke (played by Charles Turley) is supposed to report to jail, but instead sneaks off to a party with his friend Eisenstein (Paris Cheffer) in ``Die Fledermaus.'' |
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