Opera Popolare is back!
Dido and Aeneas enchants
by Christopher Key
English Baroque composer Henry Purcell may have composed only one opera, but that one is a corker. Based on Virgil’s Aeneid, Dido and Aeneas is a classic love story made tragic by the intervention of the gods. Some deities just can’t leave well enough alone and the unfortunate humans who attract their attention are in a world of hurt. Plus ça change…
Bellingham’s Opera Popolare was founded a couple of years ago by voice teacher Rob Viens and one of his star pupils, Celie Thomas. As the name suggests, the goal of the organization is to make opera accessible to the people and they do an admirable job of that. Viens has the musical chops to cut operas to a length that caters to our unfortunately reduced attention spans while still retaining the power of the story. Their first production, Orfeo et Eurydice, was a total sellout. That’s a subtle hint.
Purcell’s music is glorious and Viens recruits stellar musicians to support his voice students. Those students bear vivid witness to the caliber of coaching they get from Viens. The two lead roles are sung by a couple of teenagers who will astound you with the maturity of their voices.
Lizzie Overstreet sings Dido and her youthful countenance belies a voice that sounds like that of someone far more experienced. She is a junior at Bellingham High School and involved with drama and choir. Bellingham needs to hear her one more time before we lose her, at least for a while.
The role of Aeneas is sung by high school student Alec Smith with a verve that should make everyone grateful to have him around for at least another year. His vocal control is superb and his voice, like Overstreet’s, is unexpectedly mature.
Another wondrous performer who is also leaving for warmer climes is Lauren DeLorme. She sings the role of Belinda, Dido’s handmaid and confidante. Her thrilling voice and lovely stage presence will be sorely missed in local theatres. The aforementioned Celie Thomas is not only a driving force behind Opera Popolare, but a gifted performer who will be gracing local stages for years to come. She is regally evil as the Sorceress who toys with the star-crossed lovers.
Her partners in crime are played by Wendy Donaghy and Sonia Alexis whose marvelous voices are matched by their sinuous stage presence. Heidi Roland, as Dido’s Second Woman, doesn’t get as much stage time as I would have wished given her commanding voice. Scott Fleischmann, Jeremiah O’Brine and Karen Powers round out the supporting roles with the professionalism I have come to expect from this company.
Both the orchestra and chorus pull off something that will amaze you as they sound like much larger aggregations. That’s one of the magical things that happens when superb musicians gather under the baton of a conductor/director who knows how to prestidigitate.
There are only three performances of Dido and Aeneas and if past experience is any indication, they will sell out early. Evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. on August 19 and 20. The matinee is at 3:00 p.m. on August 21. The venue is Christ the Servant Lutheran Church at 2600 Lakeway. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance at Piper Music and the two Community Food Co-op locations, or at the door. For more information, call (360) 733-2663 or see http://operapopolare.com/index.html.
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