By April Phillips Virginian-Pilot correspondent
Virginia, September 25, 2015 – Sex sells, but does it sell opera tickets? “Orpheus in the Underworld,” the Virginia Opera’s season-opening production, scandalized critics and audiences when it opened in Paris in 1858.
Meredith Lustig, the Juilliard-trained soprano, turned to Kim Kardashian as an inspiration for Eurydice. (Photo Courtesy of HamptonRoads.com)
Then, its satire, memorable and adventurous music, and embrace of the joys and scandals of love made it an enduring, popular work.
It spoofed a serious classical opera, “Orfeo ed Euridice,” based on Greek mythology, and skewered French society and politics – things whispered about but not openly discussed.
This presents a challenge for Virginia Opera: How many contemporary patrons are familiar with the earlier work being lampooned, or will be shocked by open references to adultery?
Meredith Lustig, a Juilliard-trained soprano who portrays Eurydice, said this remains a sexy show full of laughs for modern audiences.
The composer mocks the original with his music, she said. “He did it in the same way Looney Tunes cartoons did it. You might not know why it’s funny, but you know it’s funny.”
The opera’s most famous, and scandalous, number is the “Galop Infernal,” which uses the dance hall music of the 19th century for the exhilarating cancan.
Lustig said the characters remain relevant because their passions and flaws are universal. She focused on Eurydice’s daring free will. The plot involves Orpheus trying to rescue his wife, Eurydice, from the underworld. But she doesn’t want to return to him, or with him.
The male characters think she’s none too bright, but she gets them to play right into her hands.
“The opera is a bold statement on women, featuring a woman who openly celebrates her sexuality and uses it of her own free will to get what she wants. This is still an issue where there’s a double standard today.”
For inspiration, Lustig turned to a role model that might surprise die-hard opera fans – Kim Kardashian.
“It’s a perfect fit,” she said. “This woman has built a brand on who she is and her sexuality. She’s parodied constantly for not being intelligent, but she’s a businesswoman with a clothing line, perfume and video games. She capitalizes on her sexuality, and she gets what she wants.”
Lustig said studying Kardashian helped her get into the mind of Eurydice. She even went to YouTube, where Kardashian’s videos helped her learn to take a perfect selfie.
She channeled it all into her character
Margaret Gawrysiak, who plays Public Opinion, will spend must of her time in the performance poking into private lives and casting moral judgments, so Gawrysiak went to TV’s Nancy Grace as inspiration. (Photo Courtesy of HamptonRoads.com)
On the other end of the spectrum is the character of “Public Opinion,” who acts as a one-woman Greek chorus and comments on the action. She is comically prudish as she tries to steer characters back to their proper spouses. Public opinion remains a powerful force in the age of Twitter, said Margaret Gawrysiak, who plays the role.
Like Lustig, Gawrysiak looked to a current influence to help her shape her character.
The production’s director, Sam Helfrich, suggested she look to a reporter, judge or politician, because Public Opinion spends her time poking into private lives and casting moral judgments. Gawrysiak went right to TV’s Nancy Grace.
“She can be sweet and charming, but flip on you in an instant,” she said. “She preaches her own take on morality – and that’s what my character does.”
If you go
What: The Virginia Opera production of “Orpheus in the Underworld”
When: 8 tonight, 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Where: Harrison Opera House, 160 W. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk
Tickets: $17.27-$105; www.vaopera.org
April Phillips, sailorapes@gmail.com
Original Article