Bravi to the Pittsburgh Opera staff and singers -- here and elsewhere

4.7.08

Monday, April 07, 2008

Andrew Druckenbrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

First, a hearty bravi to the Pittsburgh Opera staff for its handling of the multiple cancellations during its recent run of "Aida." A certain amount of singer switching is typical, but this was extraordinary, and the Opera somehow kept it together. What a crazy time it was -- highlighted by the most amazing thing I have ever heard of -- a conductor singing a role from the pit while conducting!!

By the way, Christopher Hahn, the Opera's artistic director, said that if Antony Walker had not been able to sing the role from the pit, he probably would have extended the second intermission until tenor Eduardo Villa arrived from the airport (he had been flown in from New York to sing the last acts if tenor Vladimir Kuzmenko couldn't finish). That's been done before and for those who stay it can be fun to be caught up in the drama of the drama. But, thankfully, Walker could do it and made at least Pittsburgh operatic history.

A summary of our coverage of the "Aida":

Beneath the spectacle of Verdi's 'Aida' lies an intimate tale

Stephanie Blythe takes big step forward in new role as Amneris in 'Aida'

Mezzo-soprano replaced in 'Aida

Opera Review: Pinch-hitter gives performance fit for an Egyptian princess.

Blythe cancels for opera again

Conductor does double duty as tenor loses voice

Opera companies get creative to resolve cancellations

It's Blythe ... finally

Opera Review: Last but not least, an Amneris sung by Blythe

P.S. A kind reader passed on that the Pittsburgh Opera used a baby elephant in the 1988 production of "Aida" (the company's 50th anniversary season) not the 1995 production as I reported in my preview, based on the Opera's info. Either way, I am glad the company didn't do that again (using only a trained, mature horse). It apparently was quite stressful to the young'un.

Kudos, too, to these former Pittsburgh Opera Center artists. Board member Frank Fischer passed on this information, showing many of them to be engaged in productions in April. It is quite a list (with years spent in the Opera Center program in parentheses):

Javier Abreu (2001-2003) - Don Pasquale, Anchorage Opera

Kate Aldrich (1998-2000) - Concert, Malta; Lucrezia Borgia, Torino, Italy

Lielle Berman (1998-1999) - Candide, New York City Opera

Mark Calvert (1999-2001) - Ariadne auf Naxos, Linz, Austria

Jason Collins (2003-2005) - Das Lied von der Erde, Philadelphia

George Cordes (1992-1995) - Mozart Requiem, Plymouth

Marianne Cornetti (1989-1991) - Masked Ball, Amsterdam, Holland

John Daniecki (1986) - Barber of Seville, Dortmund, Germany

Brian Davis (1990) - Carmen, Hannover, Germany

Stephen Eisenhard (1989) - Cosi fan tutte, Sarasota

Kevin Glavin (1987-1989) - Tosca, Tampa

Oren Gradus (1987-1999) - La Boheme, Metropolitan Opera.