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Show Operas "Tosca" Filled With Political Intrigue, Murder and Mayhem by Calvin L. Harrington . Forum staff writer Utah Opera offers another cast and a conductor of distinction and experience for their production of Tosca by Giacomo Puccini. There are only three remaining performances in the Capitol Theatre on Jan. 22 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. (with a 2 p.m. matinee on Jan, 26). A firm and knowledgeable conductor. Maestro Louis Solemno, elicits first-rat- e work from the Utah Opera Chorus and the Utah Symphony for this production. This popular American musician has led acclaimed performances for the Seattle Opera, Tulsa Opera, New York City Opera, Milwaukee Opera, Dallas Opera and for LOpera de Montreal. Based on the play (La Tosca) by Sardou, Tosca is certainly one of the most controversial operas. While praised as a musical masterpiece, it is often berated by critics for representing violent theater at its peak and for its manipulation of emohigh-power- ed tions. But audiences arent complaining. Tosca happens to be one of the e crowd pleasers. Any opera producer who wantis to pack a house knows to engage three excellent singing actors and let the melodrama rip. Tosca is an opera that cause people to leave the theater humming, and it has three of the juiciest roles ever created for a soprano, a tenor and a baritone. all-tim- The drama takes place in Rome in 1800 and is set against the political climate of Napoleons conquest of Italy. One of the most powerful men in Rome at this time is the head of the secret police, Baron Scarpia (baritone). His network of spies and secret agents maintain a terrifying atmosphere of suspicion via the suppression of civil liberties. Mario Cavaradossi (tenor) is a painter and a liberal patriot who is watched by government authorities. In the first act, Mario is in an empty church painting a picture of Mary Magdalene. The sacristan, the priest in charge of the church (a baritone), recognizes the face as that of a young woman worshiper. Mario compares this womans physical features to those of Tosca, his true love. The sacristan becomes very annoyed at such talk in church and leaves. Mario, now alone, is interrupted by the sudden appearance of Angelotti (bass), an of the destroyed Italian government who has escaped political imprisonment Mario promises to help Angelotti hide in his house. While they are talking, Floria Tosca (soprano), a celebrated singer, is heard approaching and the fugitive hides as she enters. Having heard sounds, the fiercely jealous Tosca accuses Mario of talking to another woman. He denies it, she is convinced and arranges a meeting with him that night at his house. While leaving, she sees the portrait that he is painting and her ex-cons- ul ported victory over Napoleon. Scarpia (baritone), the sadistic chief of the secret police arrives, leading a search for the prison escapee. Suddenly, Tosca returns to the church to tell Mario that her performance that night will delay their meeting. The evil Scarpia has always desired Tosca, and using her jealousy, tricks her into unwittingly leading his agents to Marios country house. He shows her a womans fan and tells her that he found it on the easel. Comparing himself to Shakespeares Iago (who used an incriminating handkerchief to arouse the jealous suspicion of Othello) Scarpia tells Tosca that Mario left with another woman. Like clock work, Tosca works herself into a jealous rage (urged on by Scarpia) until she finally swears at the picture of Mary Magdalene. Scarpia pretends that he is shocked. In church, he utters cooingly. As Tosca weeps she says, God will forgive me. Scarpia s spies follow the jealous woman right to Scarpias house. They are unable to find the prison escapee because he has been hidden in a secret chamber which can only be reached through a well in the garden. The following two acts uncover a chilling plot complete with political intrigue, lust, torture, an attempted rape, murder, an execution by firing squad and two suicides. Soprano Martha Thigpen who sings the title role of Floria Tosca, made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1986 in the role of Ortlinde in Wagners Die Walkure. Local audiences saw her in the double roles of Antonia and Guiletta in Utah Operas 1989 production of The Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach. Thigpens voice has the luscious tone necessary for all Puccini, especially Tosca. She sings the role with precision and imposing presence and her brave handling of the high tessitura is very pleasing. Thigpen is stunning in the second-ascene where she breaks down when Mario is being tortured by Scarpias agents She sings V issi darte, vissi damore (I have lived for art and love). She laments the unjustness of her fate. All her life she has given generously to the poor. She cries, Why, Heavenly Father, have you forsaken me? Dramatic baritone Greer Grimsley, a native of New Orleans, makes his Utah Opera debut and is a much more youthful Scarpia than usual.- - (This was a rather ct Tosca Opera singer, patriot and daughter of the people, Tosca defends her honor and the man she loves against the desires and ambitions of a ruthless official. This compelling drama of timeless proportions is one of the opera world's great masterpieces. Sung in Italian with English SUPERTITLES. Mm Call Tapers 355-ART- S eg iHkmifiP By Puccini interesting twist, since he isnt even made up to look old.) Surprisingly, his striking good looks do not detract from the characters vile wit and meanness. Grimsleys jealous suspicions are reawakened. Again Mario calms her down, reassures her and they reaffirm their love. However, before she leaves, she insists that he change the woman s blue eyes to dark ones (like hers). Mario takes the prison escapee to hide at his house as promised. Meanwhile, the "church fills with people celebrating a re- January 18, 20, 22, 24 number (the Tc Deum) big first-acomplete with bells, organ and 12 salutes on the cannon is spectacular. The Utah ct Opera chorus is superb in this sequence. Tenor Hans Gregory Ashbaker, an Idaho native, supplies the most vocal abundance and glory in this opera however. Ashbaker was seen in Salt Lake in Utah Operas 1990 production of Verdis Rigo-lett- o and then again as a featured soloist in a special gala concert honoring Utah Operas founder, Glade Peterson. Never has a composer been kinder to the tenor as Puccini was when writing Tosca and Ashbaker is at home in this type of role. He is a rugged and manly Mario. At times, he is almost overpowering in the role, but the voice is freely produced and Ashbaker colors his singing skillfully (he is never, ever dull because he produces so many different sounds). His first act aria, Rccondita armonia (strange harmony of contrasts) in which Mario compares the contrasting beauty of . the blonde woman he is painting to that of. his brunnette-hue- d Tosca is delivered with ravishing tone. The Vittoria! (Victory) aria comes after Mario is tortured and rejoices at the news that Napoleon has been victorious. Ashbakers powerful rendition of this number shows the audience that this is no wimp of a character. Memorable too is his performance of O doci Mani (oh sweet hands) which is performed when Mario is told by Tosca that she has committed murder; he wonders how her gentle hands could be the instruments of justice. . And applauded even more by the audience is Ashbakers third act aria, E e stelle (and the stars were shining), which Mario sings while in prison and recalls the starry, scented nights of love with his Floria Tosca. duet which begins with The first-aTosca calling, Mario, Mario! is sung gorgeously, and alone, is well worth the price of admission. Another famous love duet is heard in the third act Resident Utah Opera costume designer Susan Memmott Allred gives the production a sumptuous Napoleonic-er- a look and the fabulous sets came from New Orleans lu-cev- an ct Opera (designed by David Gano). Tickets can be purchased at the ART-TIbox office located in the Capitol Theatre at 50 W. 200 S. and range in price from $10to$35. Tickets may also be purchased by phone with major credit cards by calling or Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. X 355-ART- S 355-278- 7. at 7:30 pm January 26, 2:00 pm Qtneml for (Director tickets Quean wj-ii-' May Term Meeting And Info On Europe Students, staff and others interested in travelling to Spain, France and England during May term are encouraged to attend a meeting. .. Travel, credit and other topics will be discussed Sunday, January 26 in Carleson t , . a t , i 3 t i . Hall, room 202 at 3:30 p.m. Trip designations are Bordeaux, Lon- don, Paris, Carcasonne, Chambord, Madrid, Valencia and Andora. For more information, contact Elree Harris, ext. 130 or Steve Haslam, ext. 179. ! 4 ' -- v : Forum-Pag- a 7 |