OPERA Western Reserve, Youngstown, OHIO

Editors:Bernadette LimJacqueline Bibo

Volume 9

Contributors:David VosburghBernadette Lim

Spring 2012

Opera Western Reserve’s Tosca at Stambaugh Auditorium By Robert Rollin

Youngstown’s Stambaugh Auditorium hosted an exceptional Opera Western Reserve production of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca on Friday evening November 11.

The company presents one production per year and limits it to a single performance. Apparently this concept works well, as there was a full house. The produc-

tion, perhaps because of financial limitations, was set in Mussolini’s 1940’s Italy instead of the original version’s early 1800’s. In no way did this change affect

the dramatic and musical flow. Staging and blocking were imaginative and effective, and the carefully prepared score was presented with clarity and wonderful

continuous flow by Music Director Susan Davenny Wyner and the fine orchestra.

Scarpia, whose unabashed evil persona drives the opera’s darkly melodramatic and Byzantine plot, is Rome’s Secret Police Chief and on the side of reactionary

forces. He pursues his political foe Angelotti, Consul of the former Roman Republic. Mario Cavaradossi, a painter practicing his art in the Church of St. Andrea

della Valle, hides Angelotti at his villa. By threatening to execute Cavaradossi for his transgression, Scarpia, whose evil is rarely matched in the genre, blackmails

Tosca, a professional singer and Cavaradossi’s lover, into revealing Angelotti’s hiding place and into agreeing to submit to his licentious advances. Scarpia signs a

bill of safe passage for the two lovers and agrees to use fake bullets in Cavaradossi’s execution. Before Scarpia can execute his plot, Tosca stabs him to death. In the

morning Cavardossi faces a firing squad using real bullets in Scarpia’s final act of treachery. In reaction to her lover’s demise and as the troops pursue her, Tosca

throws herself from the parapet of Castle St. Angelo.

The talented lead singers were Marian Vogel as Tosca, Alex Richardson as Cavaradossi, and Michael Young as Scarpia. Vogel has a Carnegie Hall soloist debut to

her credit and has sung soprano leads in many important operatic and concert appearances. A surprisingly powerful, controlled voice belies her delicate propor-

tions. She was terrific throughout the opera, most notably in Act Two. Her balcony solo with chorus simulated a religious service, as the rest of the action contin-

ued onstage. This was truly one of Puccini’s most inspired moments. Later she was beautifully expressive in the famous Vissi D’Arte. She poured real passion into

the sad aria when Tosca speaks of devotion to music and religion, yet is deserted by God in her deepest misery.

Richardson, a tenor who has a wonderful dark vocal quality, stole the show in the Act Three aria E lucevan le stelle. The setting is just before his execution and

after he writes a letter to Tosca declaring his undying love. Here Richardson sang with remarkably ardent emotion and skill. Young effectively portrayed Scarpia’s

perfidious nature in the Act Two aria Già mi dicon venal, singing that he does not crave money, but rather the evil pleasure of forcing himself on a reluctant

woman. His stage presence was excellent and he certainly seemed detestable in the role. Balance throughout the opera was exceptional. Of the three soloists, only

Young’s baritone was eclipsed a few times by the full orchestrations.

Other notable parts were sung by bass Max Pivik, who played both Angelotti and the Jailer, and bass John Simsic, as the Sacristan. Pivik had fine vocal quality

and pacing. Simsic, who also had a strong voice, chose to play the Sacristan as a doddering, almost slapstick figure, providing some needed comic relief from the

darkly sad plot.

This marvelous production was a team effort. Chorus master Hae-Jong Lee oversaw the combined forces of the Opera Western Reserve Chorus, the Girard

City Schools Youth Choir, Sue Ellen Harris, director, and the Salem Youth Chorus, John Simsic, director. All the choruses were excellent and all changes flowed

beautifully. Production Director David Vosburgh’s inventive use of the hall to provide a variety of entrances and exits for the singers and choruses was very clever

and effective. Conductor Susan Davenny Wyner showed remarkable knowledge and understanding by never allowing the music and action to flag, by skillfully

balancing instrumental and vocal forces, and by insuring that the singers were consistently audible against the musical flow. Vosburgh in his early days sang at the

Met and rescued a chair from being discarded after being used as Scarpia’s seat in an early New York production. The chair reappeared years later in the current

show, exemplifying the care and skill given this opera.

Published on ClevelandClassical.com November 15, 2011 http://www.clevelandclassical.com/111511owrtoscarev

Jan 28-Feb 5 Hansel & Gretel Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Opera 412.281.0912

Jan 26-29 Riff Raff Youngstown State University University Theater 330.941.3105

Jan 31 The Cleveland Orchestra E.J. Thomas HallTuesday Musical 330.761.3460

Feb 4 8PM YSU Night at the Symphony DeYor PAC Youngstown Symphony 330.744.4269

Feb 11 9PM Symphonic Valentine- Sinatra Swing TimeDeYor PAC Youngstown Symphony 330.744.4269

Feb 12 12:15PM This Must be Love Stambaugh Aud. Sundays at Stambaugh 330.747.5175

Mar 9 7PM A Way with Words Foundation, Inc. DeYor PAC Billy Dean, Sarah Turner, & more 330.744.4269

Mar 11 3PM The Power of Love! Christ Episcopal ChurchWarren Philharmonic 330.399.3606

Mar 20 7:30PM Berlin Nights/Paris Days EJ Thomas HallTuesday Musical 330.972.7570

Mar 22 11:30AM Young People’s Concert DeYor PAC Tuesday Musical 330.744.4269

Mar 23-25 Marguerite: An Adaptation of Gounod’s FaustOpera per Tutti 216.631.2727

Mar 24 8PM YSO Meets YSYO DeYor PACYoungstown Symphony 330.744.4269

Apr 10 7:30PM The Knights EJ Thomas HallTuesday Musical 330.972.7570

Apr 15 Point of Grace Stambaugh AuditoriumMonday Musical Club 330.743.2717

Apr 18 7:30PM Spring Concert Stambaugh AuditoriumStambaugh Youth Concert Band 330.747.5175

Apr 19-22 Serva Padrona and Dido and Aeneas YSUUniversity Theater 330.941.3105

Apr 21 8PM Opera’s Greatest Hits DeYor PACYoungstown Symphony 330.744.4269

Apr 27-May 12 Evil Dead: The Musical YoungstownThe Oakland Center for the Arts 330.746.0404

May 3-5 YSU Dana Dance Ensemble YSUUniversity Theater 330.941.3105

May 4-14 The Mystery of Edwin Drood The Youngstown Playhouse 330.788.8739

May 6 12PM Youngstown Standard Time: Kent EngelhardtSundays at Stambaugh 330.747.5175

May 20 4PM Many Voices, One World Stambaugh AudStambaugh Chorus 330.747.5175

May 8 A Recital with Lawrence Brownlee Cleveland ClevelandChamberMusic.org 216.291.277

For information on The Dana School of Music events, call: 330.941.3636 web.ysu.edu/fpa/music

Save the Date

This past November, the Opera Western Reserve Young Artists were not only busy with Tosca, but also worked hard to produce and perform their Mini Main-Stage production of Tosca to approximately 300 students from several local schools. The hour-long performance treated the students to a production on the stage of historic Stambaugh Auditorium, complete with a full set, lights, costumes, and super title projections.

Tosca in Miniature was accompanied by Paula Kubik. The narration was energetically led by Robert Pierce. In addition to narrating, Mr. Pierce sang the role of Sciarrone.

The narration, written by The Young Artists, consisted of a plot summary that was presented before each song. The brilliant cast also included Diana Farrell as Tosca, Young Artists Director, Max Pivik as Scarpia, and Enrique Bernardo as Cavaradossi.

Tosca in Miniature was a wonderful success. Opera Western Reserve is ecstatic to see the Educational Outreach Program grow and achieve its goal of bringing opera to children. OWR hopes to continue reaching out to more schools and educating them about this unique art form.

The OWR Young Artists Present: Tosca in Miniature

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Nominations for Community Representatives on the Opera Western Board of Trustees are now being accepted for 2012-2014. Any person is eligible to become a Community Representatives if he or she satisfies each of the following conditions:1. Attends Opera Western Reserve productions;2. Can influence the Opera Western Reserve positively through knowledge and experience;3. Can donate to the Opera Western Reserve via financial or in-kind support.Persons interested in nominating themselves or in nominating others submit names of candidates to Elliot Legow, Governance Committee Chair, at elegow@aol.com.

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Opera Western ReservePatricia Fleck Kavic, Chairperson/General DirectorSusan Davenny Wyner, Music Director/Conductor

David L. Vosburgh, Production Director

We’d like to thank...

Ruth H. Beecher Charitable TrustThe Cafaro CompanyDeBartolo FoundationDominion Foundation

Frank & Pearl E. Gelbman Charitable FoundationSchermer Trust

The Aimee and Lulu Seidel FoundationWalter E. & Caroline H. Watson Foundation

... for their support!

Contents New Logo Design by: Garrett Ensley Tosca Review

Tosca in MiniatureSave the Date

Become a DonorWYSU

Ticket Order FormOWR Board NomineesLawrence Brownlee

1000 Fifth AvenueYoungstown, OH 44504-1673

“Opera Western Reserve’s La Traviata demonstrated that the company has come of age.” -Classical Cleveland