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| Catie Shelley as the housemaid Adele and Josh Whelan as Eisenstein聽in Die Fledermaus. "There's some very sexy parts." (Nick Pearce Photo) |
What do people think of opera? Allyson Howlett doesn鈥檛 mince words. 鈥淭he preconceived idea is the big lady on stage with the horns and the wobbly voice.鈥�
Judging by that cliche, AV俱乐部 Opera Workshop鈥檚 selection from Strauss鈥� Die Fledermaus isn鈥檛 opera at all. The action takes place in a ballroom; it centres on a decadent champagne party with no rules but 鈥渆ach to his own taste.鈥� The costumes reflect a modern elegance not far from fashion magazines. And Strauss鈥� plot聽鈥� sung in English聽鈥� strays far from the Wagnerian. Cutthroat chambermaids scheme their way into high society; Machiavellian revenges are meticulously planned; a disguised couple manage to commit infidelities鈥� with each other.
See photo essay: Die Fledermaus
鈥漈here鈥檚 some very sexy parts in the opera,鈥� student Catie Shelley grins. 鈥淟ots of seduction going on.鈥�
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Ms. Howlett has always wanted to be a performer. Why opera? 鈥淏eing an opera singer has kind of a class to it. It makes you feel more regal,鈥� she says, thoughtfully聽鈥� adding that, in this age of pre-teen popstars and wardrobe malfunctions, that kind of class is sorely needed.
The other Adele swears she was introduced to opera 鈥渂y a nun! When I was 13.鈥� She鈥檇 always been a singer, and loved opera immediately 鈥� although, or perhaps because, it鈥檚 so challenging. There are no extra takes, no smoke and mirrors to hide behind. 鈥淚t鈥檚 up close and personal. You get to see these characters come alive on stage.鈥�
Die Fledermaus (conducted by veteran conductor and AV俱乐部 instructor Gary Ewer, and directed by Nina Scott-Stoddart) has been a learning experience for both students, though they鈥檙e already seasoned performers. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e just pushed into it鈥� being pushed into something bigger really helps you grow,鈥� muses Ms. Shelley.
Both students plan musical careers and are optimistic about the future of opera. Opera, Ms. Shelley believes, will soon reclaim its popular appeal.
鈥淒irectors want to modernize things鈥β燽ring that traditional opera in a modernized setting鈥 think that opera is coming back. Everyone is young (now), and they鈥檙e approaching it in a modern way.鈥� And, she adds, the influence of opera has never actually gone away; stars such as Kristen Chenowith (who recently appeared on Ugly Betty) are keeping the art new and vibrant.
鈥淎 lot of movies are based off opera, too,鈥� Ms. Howlett adds,聽mentioning Moulin Rouge as being inspired by La Traviata. Plus, award-running musical Rent 鈥� which just finished a spectacular run on Broadway聽鈥� draws more than a little inspiration from Puccini鈥檚 La Boheme.
Opera, then, is alive and well and living at AV俱乐部; now all these students and the rest of the cast need is an audience.
鈥淓ven if you think you don鈥檛 like opera, come see it, anyway,鈥� urges Ms. Howlett. 鈥淚 want people to walk away not saying, 鈥榃hat a pretty dress,鈥� but 鈥榃hat a great performance.鈥欌��
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 really know what we鈥檙e doing, down here in the basement (of the AV俱乐部 Arts Centre). But I think they鈥檇鈥� be exhilarated. You don鈥檛 have to be a musician to enjoy it.鈥�