IOA stages frothy Viennese opera, “Die Fledermaus”
Published: September 30, 2008
Intermountain Opera Association stages “Die Fledermaus,” the frothy Viennese confection by Johann Strauss, Oct. 10 and 12 at Willson Auditorium in Bozeman. This is the second offering in the Bozeman-based professional opera company’s 30th anniversary season.
With a comic plot that culminates in a lavish masquerade ball featuring the joyous, infectious music of The Waltz King, the operetta is a traditional New Year’s celebration in Vienna. “It seemed like a wonderful way to celebrate thirty years of outstanding opera in Bozeman,” says Linda Curtis, the IOA’s artistic director.
The IOA production will be in English, with a new libretto by John Mortimer, beloved adaptor of so many Masterpiece Theatre classics. Stage direction is by Richard Clifford of London. Music director/conductor is Julian Dawson, whose career has taken him from England and Scotland to Chicago and Bozeman, where he will be conducting his fifth IOA production.
Three performers with Bozeman connections will sing lead roles. Sadie Dawkins Rosales, who grew up in Bozeman but now lives New York City where she gave her Carnegie Hall debut recital in May, will sing Rosalinde. Rosales made her IOA debut in 1995 as Musetta in “La Boheme.” (Her husband, tenor Pedro Rosales, sings the comic role of Rosalinde’s ex-boyfriend.)
Catherine Viscardi, a recent transplant to Bozeman, will sing Adele, the mischievous maid who slips into the masquerade ball in a gown “borrowed” from her mistress. She made her IOA debut in May as Mercedes in “Carmen” and has sung with the Portland Opera and the Ash Lawn Opera of Virginia.
Singing the “trouser” role of Prince Orlofsky will be Olivia Kahler, who studied voice at MSU and is currently working in England. The prince, bored with life, hosts the ball and finds that music, champagne and a few playful pranks can really brighten an evening.
Baritone Sean Anderson makes his IOA debut, singing the central role of Baron von Eisenstein, a man who is the target of an elaborate revenge, cooked up by his friend, Falke. Anderson made his Sarasota Opera debut in the role and also starred on Broadway as Marcello in the 2004 Baz Luhrman production of “La Boheme.”
Originally from England, Darrell Babidge comes to Bozeman from Utah to sing Falke. MSU alum Lukas Graf, who was El Dancairo in “Carmen,” returns to sing Frank, the prison warden. The Bozeman Symphonic Choir’s new director, Russell Milburn, serves as IOA chorus master and sings Dr. Blind. Bozeman soprano Coco Douma rounds out the featured cast as Adele’s sister, Ida.
To purchase tickets, call 406-585-7545 or visit www.operabozeman.org.
