By David Nicholson Contact Reporter – dbnicholson@dailypress.com
VA, September 24, 2015, 8:45 PM – In the mid-1800s, Wagner, Verdi and other opera composers were writing a lot of serious stuff. Along came Jacques Offenbach who decided that he mostly wanted to have fun.
Baritone Troy Cook will sing the role of Jupiter in Virginia Opera’s “Orpheus in the Underworld” (Virginia Opera / Virginia Opera)
Offenbach wrote serious stuff, too, such as “The Tales of Hoffmann.” But the German-born composer also penned more than 100 comic operettas for the Paris theater. His lively works are widely seen as a precursor to the operettas of Johann Strauss Jr. and Gilbert & Sullivan.
“Orpheus in the Underworld,” written in 1858 and still the most popular of these pieces, gets its first staging by Virginia Opera. The production plays for three performances Friday through Tuesday before traveling to Richmond and Fairfax.
Opera newbies might consider buying a ticket to this one. In addition to its nonsensical plot and infectious melodies, including the popular “Can-Can” music, this production will be sung in English.
The Greek story of Orfeo and Euridice is a familiar one. Euridice has died and gone to Hades, and Orfeo descends into the underworld to bring her back. The gods have warned him that he cannot look at her until they have returned home or she will be lost to him forever. He does and she is. Happily, Offenbach’s opera ends on a more positive note.
Though this opera runs just over two hours, it’s packed with beautiful melodies and crazy scenarios, says Adam Turner, Virginia Opera’s principal conductor and artistic adviser. Turner prepared the chorus, though the production will be conducted by Anne Manson.
“Many of the gods and goddesses that make up the chorus have solos and lots of little bit roles, so we’ve relied heavily on the singers in our Emerging Artist Program,” he says.
The company’s Emerging Artist training program has one notable graduate who is returning to perform in “Orpheus.” Baritone Troy Cook, who will sing the role of Jupiter, now appears with major opera companies in London, Madrid and the United States.
Joining him onstage will be Javier Abreu as Orfeo, Meredith Lustig as Euridice and Daniel Curran as Pluto. Sam Helfrich returns as stage director in his first attempt at directing a comic opera for the company. This new production is designed by Andrew Lieberman with costumes by Kaye Voyce, lighting by Aaron Black, and wigs and makeup by Jim McGough.
President and CEO Russell Allen says “Orpheus” is a good contrast to the more tragic operas such as “La bohème” and “Romeo and Juliet” that will follow.
“We have a couple of sad tales coming up, so we wanted to open the season with something sparkling and upbeat,” says Allen. “This is a wonderful work and we’ve never done it.”
Nicholson can be reached by phone at 757-247-4794.
Want to go?
What: Virginia Opera presents “Orpheus in the Underworld.”
When: 8 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Most performances will be preceded by a 30-minute discussion by Glenn Winters, director of community outreach.
Where: Harrison Opera House, 160 Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk.
Tickets: $19 to $105.45, available by calling 866-673-7282 or online at vaopera.org.