Raychel harvey jones | Concert Review: Rossini’s ‘Tancredi’ at Baltimore Concert Opera

Alexandra Rodrick, (Roggiero) Heather Johnson (Tancredi), Matthew Curran (Orbazzano), Heath Huberg (Argirio), Lindsay Ohse (Amenaide), Madelyn Wanner (Isaura). Photo By Baltimore Concert Opera.

Women playing the roles of men, not one but two possible endings all set in one of Charm city’s most elegant and historic areas. As a first-time concert operagoer, it will not be my last!

On September 30^th “Rossini’s Tancredi” played out at the Baltimore Concert Opera and Southwest Opera.
From the history outside this Mount Vernon location to the opulence of the interiors it is an unforgettable experience, a hidden gem in the heart of the city.

…glorious music and a compelling story
The Baltimore Concert Opera is celebrating its 8th season. A Concert Opera is a full-length opera presented with soloists, often a full orchestra, chorus, and conductor. There are no sets, costumes or props to distract from the focus of the music and the performers.

After a per-opera lecture by Maestro Anthony Barrese, the audience shares the room with an all-male chorus accompanied by Michael Dauphinais on piano.

Throughout the Opera, there are supertitles on a screen set above the performers. This helps the audience follow along with this emotional story.

“Tancredi” is based on a play by Voltaire and first premiered in February 1813 Venice.
The drama unfolds around the beautiful Amenaide, who is caught in the middle of the politics of the men in her life. Her father Argirio, Tancredi, the man she loves, and Orbazzano the man to who she is betrothed.
menaide, played by Lindsay Ohse brought her passionate and at times tragic story to life through glorious music and a compelling story with each beautifully executed song. Making her debut at the Baltimore Concert Opera Ohse’s performance was impeccable, telling her story with her voice and her facial expressions.
Heather Johnson played Tancredi, an exiled Syracusan Knight and secret love of Amenaide.
Johnson, a mezzo-soprano plays a ‘pants’ role. What does that mean? It’s a woman playing the role of a man, something that is not uncommon in Opera. Cherubino in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro was a very famous ‘pants’ role.
The ‘pants’ role is easy to comprehend being brought up in the United Kingdom with a musical performance known as pantomime. The heroes and villains are traditionally ‘pants’ roles.
Johnson is captivating in her role as Tancredi. As she sings the words, “I burn with rage,” you can rule feel the passion from this performer.

While Amenaide’s father Argirio and Orbazzano, the man betrothed to Amenaide towered above Tancredi in size, Johnson’s voice, charisma, and dedication to her role stood out through the entire performance.
Alexandra Rodrick played Roggiero, Tancredi’s chaperone. Not an easy task playing alongside Johnson, a dynamic performer. However, Rodrick, a Maryland native shows her vocal skills are up to the challenge.
Amenaide’s father, ‘Argiro’ is played by Heath Huberg, he looks very young to be cast in this parental role, but played it with confidence.


Madelyn Wanner played Isaura, a friend to Amenaide and Mathew Curran played Orbazzano.
The 16 strong male chorus gave the opera the final touch in making this performance a pleasure to attend.
The most difficult part of writing a review is not to give away the ending. No spoiler alert here, there are two endings. Intrigued?
Running Time: 2 hours 45 minutes with one intermission.
“Tancredi” runs through October 2nd at The Baltimore Concert Opera for more information on the Baltimore Concert Opera and to buy tickets.
Posted By: Raychel Harvey Jones

 

Raychel harvey jones | Theatre Review: ‘Dead Man’s Cell Phone’ at McDaniel College

Every hump day needs a good laugh. Great one-liners and a description of wearing a thong that will always make me chuckle.
“Dead Man’s Cell Phone” played out on October 5th at McDaniel College in Westminster. After a little confusion and lack of guidance as to which auditorium I was heading for, I took my seat for this risible play.
… a humdinger of a character with quirky one-liners and quick wit..

Directed by Tad Janes and written by Sarah Ruhl “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” is described, as an ethereal comedy, and the script didn’t disappoint. This cast of amateur performers, students at McDaniel College held my attention with their energy, humor and their ability to keep a straight face through some bizarre moments.
In a world where we rely on cell phones heavily, this play is a light-heated and humorous look at the obsession we have with our digital companions.
Antoinette Martin plays Jean, a good-hearted young girl who realizes the annoying, loud, constant ringing of a cellphone in a café belongs to a dead man, Gordon. Martin sets the comedy level from the start by chastising Gordon for not silencing his phone, only to realize he is slumped at a café table, dead.
No spoiler there, the title gives it away. Jean then sets out on a mission to make sure everyone in Gordon’s life finds peace with his death assuming her new role as his friend and colleague.

Brandi Weyers plays Gordon’s mother Mrs. Gottlieb, a humdinger of a character with quirky one-liners and quick wit. Weyers plays the role of a much older woman very well with great stage presence. Najee Banks plays Gordon with great confidence, dead and alive. In the second act, he gets to relive his last day, sending the audience away with the message, live each day as if it’s your last, as one day it will be.

There are lots of references to Gordon’s profession in the first act. His family questions young Jean as she claims to be a work colleague. “Are you incoming or outgoing?” To cover her tracks, she said “incoming” in the second act his unusual and morally questionable career path is revealed.

Young Jean keeps Gordon’s phone throughout the play, claiming that she will answer the phone forever, just in case a childhood friend calls and haven’t heard about Gordon’s demise.

Jen Shillingsburg plays Hermia, Gordon’s widow who after a few too many martinis reveals some intimate and hilarious details about her love life. This was one of my favorite scenes, Shillingsburg plays the drunk widow well, showing more emotion for her husband’s career path than the actual loss of her husband.

Torreke Evans plays Dwight, Gordon’s brother. Evans plays the downtrodden, mostly forgotten son keeping his nerdish character throughout the performance.

Ira Domser, a McDaniel College Faculty Staff member, went for a minimalist approach to the set design, that worked well. The ensemble created scene changes and movement using moments of well-lit silhouettes. The Light Design is the work of Moises Miguel.

I wasn’t convinced at times that the music was in the right era considering the focus on mobile technology and our reliance on it in today’s world.

You would be wise to check twice that your cell phone is off during this play as the cast and lighting rely heavily on ringing phones as sound cues. While at times the audience is encouraged to participate, you don’t want to become part of the action.

There is some colorful language in the play that may not be suitable for a younger theater-goer.
Running Time: 2 hours with one 10-minute intermission.

“Dead Man’s Cell Phone” runs through October 8th at McDaniel College, for more information you can check the website
Posted By: Raychel Harvey Jones