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New Brunswick Youth Orchestra Music Director & Conductor--Antonio Delgado, Tutta Musica--Teaching Artists of Sistema NB, and NBYO member musicians will perform the musical accompaniement to the 2016 Université de Moncton’s 2016 opera production.
Le Nozze di Figaro to be shown at The Capitol Theatre
JENNIFER GOUCHIE TIMES & TRANSCRIPT
Students of the Université de Moncton’s music department’s voice class will showcase their incredible talents when they present a full production opera at the Capitol Theatre this weekend.
Presented in Italian with English and French surtitles, Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro is being presented on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m. as well as a matinee performance on Sunday,Jan.31,at 2 p.m.
It’s not often a full production opera comes to Moncton. The fact it is considered one of the most accessible operas to be presented in years because of its style and recognizable music, makes it the perfect starting place for first-time opera-goers.
“Opera is not a very popular art form locally so this is a great place to start,” states artistic director Philip André Collette. “It’s a great introduction to opera for anyone who hasn’t seen one before. The music is fantastic.”
Collette is delighted to be working on a classic comedy with the music department’s young students who have been busy over the past several months juggling schedules to accommodate the twice weekly rehearsals in preparation of the show.
“I hope the audience will have as much fun as we are during rehearsals,”says Collette of the opera, which has been presented annually by the UdeM music department for over 20 years. In fact, he himself was a member of the cast as a music student at UdeM 20 years ago.
About 50 people in total are involved with this year’s complete opera production. All but one of the 10 main characters are students including Joseph Goodwin as Figaro,Madeleine Albert as Susanna, Melyssa Boudreau as Figaro’s fiancée Marcellina, Jakob Creighton as Bartolo, Robyn Perry as Cherubino, Maxine Forbes as Il Conte Almaviva,Jacques Boudreau as Basilio, Maryse Basque-Doiron as La Contessa (Rosina), Elyse Delaney as Don Curzio, Valmond Bourque as Antonio and Naomie Ouellet as Barbarina. Some have been involved for several years while others are taking part for the first time in the annual production which always features a complete opera with adaptations and cuts.
“It’s a tremendous learning opportunity for students to present a full opera in costume and on a professional stage,”Collette says.“Everything about the production is professional.”
Based on the popular play by famous French playwright, Beaumarchais, Le Nozze di Figaro has all the necessary ingredients of a classic comedy including twisted plots, disguises, colourful characters, imbroglios and quiproquos.
“It’s a fun opera buffa and quite different from last year’s La Clemenza di Tito opera by Mozart,”adds the artistic director of three years.
The visual environment is classic 18th century; complete with lavish costumes, wigs and set indicative of that time period.
“It’s lively and light and characters are big and larger than life. In some cases, there is a ridiculous side to them in some ways. It’s quick moving and there’s lots of tongue and cheek situational comedy.”
He expects to see a lot of music buffs in the audience as well as those who have come especially to see the orchestra of both student and professional musicians along with the Tutta Musica ensemble gathered together for this year’s opera by Conductor Tony Delgado.
“It’s quite a learning opportunity for them and to be accompanied by an orchestra is quite an experience.”
A 16-member chorus of students or members of the music department’s Choir are also taking part in the production for the experience.
Despite its challenges, musical director Monette Gould is also singing the praises of this year’s production choice.
“There is no doubt,Figaro is a very challenging opera to mount but it offers such a great opportunity for the students to work on character building and timing as well as being accompanied by a live orchestra.”
The dynamic duo of Sylvain Ward and Annik Landry are once again designing the props and set as well as ensuring stage managing. Justin Gauvin is lighting director for a second year and long-time collaborator and seamstress, Bernice Goguen, has been working hard on the many period costumes of the opera. Joseph Goodwin is delighted to be taking on the role Figaro. It’s the Sussex native’s fourth and final year in the UdeM music program and his second opera. He promises audiences lots of great music and plenty of laughs.
“They’re going to hear a lot of fantastic music by local musicians. It’s a funny opera with a lot of love triangles.
“There’s a lot of comedy in the fast-paced production as well as a lot of touching moments. It’s a rollercoaster of a show.”
Maryse Basque-Doiron has the challenge of playing La Contessa in the upcoming production. She too is in her fourth and final year of the UdeM Music Program and has been in the cast of the annual opera each and every year.
Although serious operas are more her forte, she’s been having a lot of fun preparing for this year’s comedy.
“It’s a fun opera and audiences can expect to laugh for sure.”
With music performed from all around the world, she considers it a great way to end her time at UdeM.
“To end my degree this way is awesome. It looks really good on a resume.”
SHOW FACTS
• What: Le Nozze di Figaro
• WHERE: The Capitol Theatre, 811 Main Street, ,Moncton
• WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m.
• TICKETS: $13.75 - $25. Available at the Capitol Theatre’s box office. For more information visit www.capitol . nb.ca or call toll free at 1-800-567-1922 or (506) 856-4379
