Dan's Papers - June 15, 2007 - Opera of the Hamptons

For the past fifteen years, the devoted members of the Opera of the Hamptons have brought glorious music of all types from Puccini to Mozart and from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Sondheim, to indoor and outdoor venues across the North and South Forks. Music and wine are a natural pairing so it is not a surprise that concerts in vineyard settings have become a feature over the years but this year their sixteenth season will open in the more conventional opera house type surroundings of the beautiful bijou Vail-Leavitt theater in Riverhead on Saturday June 16 at 5.30 p.m.

Barbara Giancola, the artistic director, and Atarah Hazzan, the music director, have chosen Verdi's 'Tosca,' one of the most beloved of the classical operatic repertoire as the season's opener. 'Tosca's story line, even though it was composed back in 1800s, is still valid today, with its depictions of the whole gamut of human emotions. Politics, passion and jealousy all are there with intrigue and double crosses at every turn of the page, as a poor painter, Cavaradossi, (all painters are poor in operas!), fights for the affections of Tosca, a beautiful singer. However, the wicked Baron Scarpia, head of the secret police, also has a thing for Tosca and that definitely does not bode well for Cavaradossi's chances of long-term happiness. Tosca's future chances of happiness also seem remote because after she resists Scarpia's advances, she ends up being forced to choose between Cavaradossi's life or life with Scarpia. Her love for Cavaradossi apparently conquers her hatred of Scarpia as she appears to agree to Scarpia's demands to save Cavaradossi's life. But as soon as an opportunity presents itself, she proceeds to kill Scarpia, after he has signed the papers freeing Cavaradossi, of course! However, Scarpia has instituted an even more diabolical double cross himself, that still works after his death and Cavaradossi ends up dead, whereupon Tosca commits suicide. If you are feeling withdrawal symptoms now that the 'Sopranos' has ended, an evening here at the Vail Leavitt seems a great way to fill the void!

In this production, the role of the tempestuous Tosca will be sung by Julia Rolwing, a newcomer to the company but a soprano who comes with an impressive resume of international engagements plus being a winner of a scholarship award from the prestigious Liederkranz Foundation of New York this year . Those who saw last year's production of Madama Butterfly, will remember Ta'u Pupu'a, the ex NFL Baltimore Raven football player, whose strong and developing tenor voice plus a commanding stage presence gave strong hints of very good things to come. Ta'u will sing Cavaradossi and Barbara Giancola was full of praise for both of these singers, 'Julia has a beautiful shimmering voice and Ta'u has developed so much of his potential and recently sang this role with another company in New York and received a tremendous reception.'

Zurab Ninia is now well known to regular patrons of the company and in this production he is cast as the wicked Scarpia. Zurab has been receiving more and more notice from some of the very top operatic agents and this will be his first time singing this role. Again those who heard Nathan Baer's incredible bass voice singing a range of spirituals at one of last year's performances will be looking forward to hearing this long bearded bass as the political prisoner, Angelotti. Another regular singer, Anthony Tolve takes the role of the spy Spoletta. Anthony is a singer whom Barbara also highly praised and look for him to sing a major role in one of the season's later productions. The stage director for this production is Linda Lehr, who did such an imaginative production of 'Madama Butterfly' last season and the indefatigable Charles Bosselman shows his versatility as he combines the work of Stage Manager with the roles of the Sacristan and the Jailer

Opera of the Hamptons will also have two productions in a new vineyard setting on the North Fork. On July 21 that perennial favorite, 'La Boheme' will be staged at Dr. Dan Damianos's new Duck Walk North Winery in Southold and then on August 18 there will be an evening of 'Opera to Broadway' at the same venue. The final production also will break new ground when 'La Traviata' is staged at the Southampton Cultural Center on September 8.

One final point about 'Tosca' the show has been set for 5.30 p.m. in response to suggestions from patrons. It will also allow for an early pre theater dinner or of course after theater dining at one of the many very good restaurants that now grace Riverhead, which is now beginning to rival Greenport as a great town for dining. Incidentally, Parto's Italian restaurant, right across from the theater is offering a 10% discount to opera patrons on the day of the performance.