Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
929 N. Water St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
© Oak Park Journal
by Ludwig van Beethoven
| review
by Ed
Vincent "Fidelio", now showing at the Florentine Opera in Milwaukee is a treat, their adaptation of one of Beethoven's most cherished works is outstanding. The singing by the wonderful Erika Sunnegrådh, making her North American debut as Leonora (Fidelio), is both powerful in her delivery and beautiful in her voice. Her soprano is rich and has both incredible depth of tone and vocal range to please the most discriminating of Opera goer's. Maestro Delfs does a wonderful job with Beethoven's grand music, the opening sequence showing the arrest of the political prisoner, Florestan is accompanied by the overture to the opera and symphony sounded eloquent. A large bending faux stone wall, reminiscent of the wailing wall in Jerusalem, is used extensively throughout the opera appearing in each scene as an entirely new device and done very well with lots of panache. The stage lighting, making very good use of offset shadows gives a crowded and haunting feel to the production. This contemporary setting is still based upon emotions and flaws that are timeless and is thrill to watch. The heroine, Erika Sunnegrådh is also the star of the show- both in script and talent. She is supported and joined by a very accomplished ensemble featuring Anthony Dean Griffey as Florestan, Kristopher Irmiter as Don Pizarro, Stephen Morscheck as Rocco, Ethan Herschenfeld as Don Fernando, Valérie MacCarthy as Marzellina, and Jay Morrissey as Jacquino. The sets, the lighting, the music, and the intimate surroundings of the Marcus Center help make this first opera of the season for the Florentine a hit, and in our book a big hit. Get your tickets soon to fine performance. A short ride from Chicago. Florentine Opera to Premiere New Production of Fidelio What: Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven When: Friday, November 11, 2005 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, November 13, 2005 @ 2:30 PM Tuesday, November 15, 2005 @ 7:30 PM Where: Marcus Center for the Performing Arts 929 North Water St., Milwaukee, WI 53202 Tickets: Single tickets for Fidelio range from $17 to $134 and are available online at www.florentineopera.org; or by phone at 414-291-5700 ext. 224. Supertitles: Fidelio will be sung in German with English translations projected above the stage. Description: Florentine Opera Company will present a new production of Fidelio November 11, 13 and 15, 2005 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Fidelio will be conducted by Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Music Director Andreas Delfs in his first appearance at the Florentine Opera. Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio celebrates the courage of the individual in the face of injustice. Disguised as a man, Leonora infiltrates a prison where political detainees are secretly held to save her innocent husband. Set in contemporary times in a new production, this thrilling tribute to freedom evokes the timeless nature of political repression with some of Beethoven’s most glorious music.This new production will be directed by Dejan Miladinovic and continues the Florentine Opera Company’s desire to create new productions—with the concept, sets and costumes created from scratch rather than rented from another company. Synopsis Act I. Spain, eighteenth century. In a prison, Marzelline, daughter of the jailer, Rocco, rejects the attentions of her father's assistant, Jacquino, who hopes to marry her. Her heart is set instead on the new errand boy, Fidelio. The latter, a hardworking lad, arrives with provisions and dispatches and is distressed by Marzelline's interest in him, especially since it has the blessing of Rocco. Fidelio is in fact Leonore, a noblewoman of Seville who has come to the jail disguised as a boy to find her husband, Florestan, a political prisoner languishing somewhere in chains. When Rocco mentions a man lying near death in the vaults below, Leonore, suspecting it might be Florestan, begs Rocco to take her on his rounds. He agrees, though the governor of the prison, Don Pizarro, allows only Rocco in the lower levels of the dungeon. As soldiers assemble in the courtyard, Pizarro learns from the dispatches brought to him that Don Fernando, minister of state, is on his way to inspect the fortress. At this news the governor resolves to kill Florestan, his enemy, without delay and orders Rocco to dig a grave for the victim in the dungeon. Leonore, overhearing his plan, realizes Pizarro's evil nature and the plight of his victim. After praying for strength to save her husband and keep up hope, she again begs Rocco to let her accompany him to the condemned man's cell—and also to allow the other prisoners a few moments of air in the courtyard. The gasping men relish their glimpse of freedom but are ordered back by Pizarro, who hurries Rocco off to dig Florestan's grave. With apprehension, Leonore follows him into the dungeon. Act II. In one of the lowest cells of the prison, Florestan dreams he sees Leonore arrive to free him. But his vision turns to despair, and he sinks down exhausted. Rocco and Leonore arrive and begin digging the grave. Florestan awakens, not recognizing his wife, and Leonore almost loses her composure at the familiar sound of his voice. Florestan moves the jailer to offer him a drink, and Leonore gives him a bit of bread, urging him not to lose faith. Rocco then blows on his whistle to signal Pizarro that all is ready. The governor advances with dagger drawn to strike, but Leonore stops him with a pistol. At this moment a trumpet sounds from the battlements: Don Fernando has arrived. Rocco leads Pizarro out to meet him as Leonore and Florestan rejoice in each other's arms. In the prison courtyard, Don Fernando proclaims justice for all. He is amazed when Rocco brings his friend Florestan before him and relates the details of Leonore's heroism. Pizarro is arrested, and Leonore herself removes Florestan's chains. The other prisoners too are freed, and the crowd hails Leonore. ARTISTIC INFORMATION Anthony Dean Griffey—Florestan Anthony Dean Griffey has captured critical and popular acclaim with opera companies and symphony orchestras worldwide. Most recently he has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony and the Atlanta Symphony. He has last seen at the Florentine Opera as Lennie Small in Of Mice and Men. Erika Sunnegrådh—Leonora (Fidelio) Swedish-American soprano Erika Sunnegårdh has appeared in numerous recitals in Sweden, England, Israel, Italy and the United States. In the operatic repertoire Ms. Sunnegårdh has recently moved into heavier repertoire, currently preparing roles including Elisabeth in Tannhäuser and Abigaille in Nabucco. Autumn 2004 she made her European stage debut in the title role of Turandot at the Malmö Opera. Future plans include Turandot at the Norrland Opera, Sweden, and Leonore in Fidelio in Milwaukee, USA. During the 2005-06 she will make her Metropolitan Opera debut. Kristopher Irmiter—Don Pizarro Among his credits are appearances with San Francisco Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Portland Opera, Baltimore Opera, Atlanta Opera, Hawaii Opera and Utah Opera in roles that include Mephistopheles in Faust, Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, Olin Blitch in Susannah, and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly. He was last seen at the Florentine Opera as Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde. Stephen Morscheck—Rocco Among his performed repertoire are such parts as the title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Alphonso in Cosi Fan Tutte, Leporello in Don Giovanni, Capulet in Bellini’s I Capuletti e Montecchi, the title role in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale and Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor. Ethan Herschenfeld—Don Fernando Ethan Herschenfeld has debuted as Indiana Elliot’s Brother in The Mother of Us All with San Francisco Opera, as Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd with Toledo Opera, Zuniga in Carmen for Mobile Opera, and Colline in La Bohéme for Chattanooga Opera. He was last seen at the Florentine Opera as Doctor Granvil in La Traviata. Valérie MacCarthy—Marzellina Valérie MacCarthy, a native New Yorker of French and American origin, is increasingly in demand in the French vocal repertoire. Ms. MacCarthy made a prestigious Ravinia Festival debut as soprano soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in John de Lancie’s “Romeo et Juliette Project,” a concert she repeated in her debut with the L.A. Philharmonic. In June 2003 Valérie MacCarthy made her debut as Musetta in the brilliant Baz Luhrmann production of Puccini’s La Boheme at The Broadway Theatre. Ms. MacCarthy was last seen at the Florentine Opera as Frasquita in Carmen. Jay Morrissey—Jacquino Jay Morrissey has appeared in a number of roles including Tamino in The Magic Flute with Highland Park Opera, Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera Illinois, Carlson in Of Mice and Men with the Florentine Opera and Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Highland Park Opera. He was last seen at the Florentine Opera as the Shepherd and the Sailor in Tristan und Isolde. Andreas Delfs—Conductor Now in his eighth season as music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Andreas Delfs continues to garner national and international accolades through our national radio series and guest conducting appearances in the USA and abroad. His work this season includes a return to The Philadelphia Orchestra and concerts with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra as well as his regular concerts with the MSO. Recent engagements have also included return appearances to the Seattle, Cincinnati and Detroit Symphonies as well as a return to the prestigious Aspen Music Festival where he was once a student. Recognized as one of the top young conductors of today, Andreas Delfs leads the MSO into its 46th season with passion, precision and an ever-deepening artistry. Active also as an opera conductor Andreas Delfs gave the European premiere of John Corigliano’s opera The Ghosts of Versailles, the Swiss premiere of Ligeti’s Le Grande Macabre and a highly praised debut at the New York City Opera with Bizet’s Carmen. His opera activity with the Milwaukee Symphony has included memorable concert productions of Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, and Puccini’s Turandot. Last season’s production of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel was commercially released this past November on the AVIE label, the first ever digital recording of Hansel and Gretel in English. Dejan Miladinovic—Stage Director Dejan Miladinovic has earned critical and popular acclaim directing productions throughout North America. He is a graduate of the Academy for Theater in Belgrade and received the title of Master of Theatrical Arts from the same academy. He has also served as Artistic Director of the National Opera, Novi Sad, Yugoslavia and as Director of Opera at the University of Southern California and at Southern Methodist University. SUBSCRTIPION INFORMATION Subscriptions to the Florentine Opera’s 2005.06 Season are now available and range in price from $66.50 to $361.50. To order your subscriptions package visit us online at www.florentineopera.org or call 414.291.5700 ext.224. To request a season brochure email us at info@florentineopera.org or call 414.291.5700. FLORENTINE OPERA Milwaukee’s Florentine Opera Company is Wisconsin’s oldest and most enduring performing arts organization. It is also the fifth oldest opera company in the United States. Today Florentine audiences enjoy beautifully mounted main stage productions each season that include first-rate vocal artistry, the visual excitement of elaborate, period authentic sets and costumes, high drama, light hearted comedy and superb choreography. Audiences also enjoy outstanding modern works such as the 1999 North American premiere of Lowell Lieberman’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, the 2002 Milwaukee premiere of Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the 2003 Florentine premiere of Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. http://www.florentineopera.org/ |
Directions from Chicago
290 (Eisenhower)
West to 294
North Toll road (Wisconsin)
94 North to Wisconsin
then 794
East to Downtown
Milwaukee. The
road forks
and you go to the left, North.
The road turns away
from the
lake and you are now of the
Expressway.
Proceed west
until Water Street. Turn right,
North, on Water Street
and go
several blocks north until
you reach the Marcus
Center for the Performing Arts
929 N. Water
Street. Parking
is across the street and
connected by an above
ground
crosswalk.
