The Observer, March 2, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 19
CIM opera production highlights student talent
Those fortunate enough to catch the remaining performances of Die Fledermaus, which runs through this weekend at the Cleveland Institute of Music, will be treated to the culmination of a remarkable project. CIM's voice and opera departments bring yearly productions of full operas and opera scenes to Kulas Hall at CIM, which feature the joint effort of an array of young talent under rigorous directorship from the faculty.
Johann Strauss Jr.'s popular operetta, Fledermaus, is a satirical portrait of the decadence of 19th-century Vienna as the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and contains a glittering mix of lush orchestral color, seductive choruses, and demanding vocal roles unusual for the world of operetta. CIM's production features alternating casts, directed by David Bamberger, and is full of vitality and comic brilliance. To witness the preparations and rehearsals this week was to weather a whirlwind of activity and dedication. Reflecting on the difficulty of staging Strauss' score, Bamberger noted that Fledermaus is "an extremely demanding production combining the worlds of opera and theater, and the students have done a wonderful job." These sentiments were unanimously echoed by the voice faculty, and during the rehearsals Dean Southern made special note of the challenge of matching the spoken dialogue with the music. "This has been extremely exciting for all the voice faculty to work with all our talented singers and to observe their amazing growth," said Mary Schiller, director of the voice department at CIM.
The story follows the cavorts of Rosalinde, as she bids her husband, Eisenstein, farewell on his way to prison for tax evasion. In the meantime, she very lightly fends off the advances of her former lover, Alfred the opera singer. Eisenstein's friend Dr. Falke hopes to escort the prisoner to prison, but instead they wind up at the sparkling masked ball of Prince Orlovsky. Rosalinde and Alfred remain but their romantic interlude is interrupted when Frank the prison guard mistakes Alfred for Eisenstein and drags him off to prison.
Act Two takes place at the Orlovsky's party, and Eisenstein recognizes his maid Adele in disguise, but is not perceptive enough to realize that the Hungarian countess with whom he now flirts is in fact his wife Rosalinde in disguise. Mistaken identities are taken to the extreme in Act Three when Eisenstein and Falke arrive to the prison only to discover that somebody is already serving the prison sentence and is loudly singing excerpts from famous operas, to the annoyance of the drunken prison guard. Rosalinde attempts to uncover infidelity by producing a watch which she took from her husband. Then, to excuse the many indiscretions of the party, everybody sings a flamboyant toast to champagne, in a staging not to be missed.
CIM's production is full of riotously funny moments, complete with oversized liquor bottles, bendable prison bars, comical staging, and perceptive lighting. The orchestral playing is crisp under the direction of Harry Davidson, the singing strong throughout, and the ensemble work seamless. The impressively coordinated effort includes supertitles of the sung English texts in humorous translations at the hands of Paul and Kathleen Zweifel, who have done work around the country drawing upon multilingual experience.
The many students involved expressed their excitement with the production and noted its many challenges. "This is simply the most challenging role I've tackled," solid Irene Roberts, who plays the ostentatiously bold Orlofsky in the Wednesday and Friday casts. Natasha Ospina noted how the notoriously difficult role of Rosalinde has forced her to "grow out of her shell" and to assume with equal attention the unique demands that the opera makes, combining acting, spoken dialogue, and singing. The celebratory and vivacious atmosphere conjured up by Strauss' popular masterpiece is exemplary of the strong effort throughout this CIM production not to be missed.
Die Fledermaus plays Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m. in Kulas Hall at CIM. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors, and $15 for adults. At time of printing, both performances were sold out, but the Saturday performance can be heard for free, live on FM 104.9.
