Let me preface this by saying: I’ve never seen an opera of any form in my life, and prior to this class, have rarely ever heard any operatic works. As I was interested in learning more about opera and seeing it performed on stage, I decided to attend this performance. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I went in.
The purpose of this event was to showcase the talents of the UBC Opera Ensemble members through many different opera pieces. Each piece performed was only accompanied by a single piano, and the vocals of other ensemble members. The performances ranged from soloists performing arias, duets, quartets, and pieces involving the entire ensemble at parts. Here are some of my favourites.
FAVOURITE PIECES:
Piece #1 & #2: “Habanera” and “Votre toast” from Carmen by G. Bizet, performed by Jilian Clow as Carmen, Ian Burns as Escamillo, Madison Craig, and Sarah Sum, with members of the UBC Opera Ensemble
The performance of “Habanera” followed the performances of three arias sung by three female soloists with very a sparse piano accompaniment each. So, when “Habanera” started, and the full UBC Opera Ensemble marched onto the stage, it was quite an exciting sight due to the contrast with the previous performance. This rendition of “Habanera” is sung by the female soloist, Jilian Clow as Carmen, and accompanied by the UBC Opera Ensemble as well as a single piano. Both vocal and piano accompaniments are both homophonic when used, and are meant to further emphasize certain phrases and words (specifically, to exclaim, “L’amour! L’amour!”).
“Votre toast” was presented in a similar fashion as “Habanera”; again, there is a single soloist performed by Ian Burns, the UBC Opera Ensemble, and a single piano. And again, the opera ensemble provided backing vocals and emphasis on certain words. In “Votre toast”, I really enjoyed the use of space, as Escamillo would walk around into the audience and through the aisles. This use of space is something one definitely can’t get from a recording — unless you have an amazing surround sound system.
Piece #3: “Bella figlia dell’amore” from Rigoletto by G. Verdi, performed by Ian McCoy, Yenny Lee, Sodam Lee, and Hyun Seung Tom Son
This vocal quartet by far used polyphony the most obviously in the pieces I heard that day. The host did not explicitly say, but I believe it is a recitative, as this piece features a major plot point form Rigoletto by G. Verdi, where the Gilda (played by Sodam Lee), daughter of the Rigoletto (played by Hyun Seung Tom Son), is made to realize that her lover, the Duke of Mantua (played by Ian McCoy), is in an adulterous relationship with another woman, Maddalena, played by Yenny Lee. First enters the Duke and Maddalena who set the scene of their secret relationship. Rigoletto later leads Gilda into the scene, and she watches the scene in horror. So, on top of the duo sung by the Duke and Maddalena, Rigoletto and Gilda are ALSO singing their own conversation. It was a very interesting scene to watch, especially hearing Sodam Lee’s voice as the heartbroken Gilda piercing through the Duke and Maddalena’s scene.
CONCLUSION + OVERALL OPINION:
I really enjoyed the way these pieces were presented in an easy-to-approach style. As I have never seen an opera before, I was feeling like it might be overwhelming to go to a full-length opera, which are hours in length and often not in English. I would hardly know which one I would want to go to. However, as the Opera Tea Series presents a bunch of different pieces from different operas, it is a good way to sample and see which opera one may be interested in seeing. As for me, I think I will definitely check out a rendition of Carmen, among others that I enjoyed from the performance.