Hansel and Gretel bewitches Bellingham
Symphony’s first opera a winner
by Christopher Key
Let me make one thing perfectly clear: I’m really not qualified to review opera. But I know what I like and the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra’s production of Hansel and Gretel has only one weak point. There are only two performances. Given the reaction of Saturday’s enthusiastic crowd, we can always hope for an expanded schedule next time.
The operatic version of the classic Grimm fairy tale features music by late 19th/early 20th century composer Englebert Humperdinck. The libretto is by his sister Adelheid Wette.
First, the orchestra. WSO artistic director Dr. Roger Briggs has assembled a stellar ensemble of musicians. That’s a very good thing given the extraordinary acoustics of the Bellingham High School theatre. By the time I arrived, the house was packed and I had to sit in the very last row. I still heard every note as well as if I had been down in the pit. There were a lot of kids in the house and it was gratifying to see them completely surrounding the orchestra pit during intermission. Symphonies deserve groupies, too.
Briggs also has a reputation for being able to recruit top-notch talent to perform with the orchestra and the singers for this show don’t disappoint in the slightest.
Photo credit: Pat Johnson
Mezzo Carla Hilderbrand has performed with many regional operas and she gives a thrilling performance as Hansel. Once you have heard her, you won’t be surprised to learn that she received a Seattle Opera Guild Grant last year. Her voice is a perfect complement to that of soprano Amber Sudduth-Bone, who portrays Gretel. Sudduth-Bone is a member of the voice faculty at Western Washington University and has performed extensively in Hawaii. When the two join voices, it’s goose-bump city.
Beth Wallace, who sings with the Bellingham Chamber Chorale and has appeared with the Skagit opera, portrays Mother with a delightful exasperation over her two unruly progeny. Father is sung with boozy exuberance by Dr. David Meyer. He recently performed Mozart and Salieri and Le Toreador in Switzerland.
Mt. Baker School District choir teacher Jessica Rodriguez is radiant as the Dew Fairy and WWU vocal performance major Deanna Davis is equally charming as the Sandman. There was little doubt that the crowd favorite was Deborah Blakesley as the Witch. Blakesley, who has graced Bellingham stages since she was a child, was last seen after the show being mobbed by adoring children.
Serving as general/stage director, the immensely talented Karin Saadat has previously directed Hansel and Gretel at the Richard Strauss Conservatory and assisted with productions at the Munich Opera House. The vivid and clever set was designed by Lee Theophilus who has worked with Touchstone Theatre in Pennsylvania and the Santa Fe Opera. Costume designer Sarah Adams is a WWU graduate and deserves loud applause for her work on this production. Mary Simler Evans, proprietor of U & Me Dance in Bellingham, provided the dazzling choreography and Kelsey Green stage managed.
Hansel and Gretel is one of the finest ways to introduce young people to opera, both because of the familiar subject and because it’s sung in English. The WSO production is completely enchanting for kids of all ages and they deserve another full house for Sunday’s performance.
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