Music Theater Workshop Performs Opera

Linna Jones
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Photo by Eric Bell

Opera - (Left) Senior John Gladden, sophomore Genevieve Huggins, sophomore David Vaughn, senior Regina Vaughn, senior Rayburn Ezell Jr. and sophomore Ashley Couch pose after performing "Cosi Fan Tutti" Nov. 8-9 in the Fine Arts Center.

The Music Theater Workshop performed excerpts from Act 1 of “Cosi Fan Tutti” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the Fine Arts Center Nov. 8-9.

Senior Rayburn Ezell Jr., sophomore David Vaughn, senior John Gladden, sophomore Genevieve Huggins, senior Regina Vaughn and sophomore Ashley Couch performed in the opera.

Vaughn said how he felt about Friday's performance.

“I felt like tonight’s performance was wonderful,” Vaughn said. “The crowd’s response was wonderful; it made it easier to play our parts.”

In Act I, Don Alfonso (Gladden), a cynical old philosopher, declares to his young friends Ferrando (Ezell) and Guglielmo (Vaughn), that no woman can be trusted including their respective fiancées, the sisters Dorabella (Regina) and Fiordiligi (Huggin).

   Enraged, Ferrando and Guglielmo accept the wage of 100 sov’reigns that Alfonso can prove his point in 24 hours, if they agree to follow Alfonso’s instructions. The soldiers dress as Albanians, and Alfonso enlists the help of Despina (Couch) to persuade the sisters.

   Robin Campbell, 13, said what she liked about the performance.

   “It was long, and it was really good,” Campbell said. “All of it was really cool.”

   Rosemary, her sister, added, “The doctor rocks.”

The musical accompaniment for the opera introduces military themes when references are made to the soldiers or the military. The music also details a lyrical change, portraying birds during the women’s solos and duets, and it details 19th-century dance rhythms including the waltz and minuet. The opera also showed several political themes spoofing the nobility of the era.

The period costumes compliment the set with style and color. The set created by Virgil Cooper and Clint Ross showed two descending marble staircases in the architectural style of the period. During the performance the set portrayed a garden with a bench, the home of the sisters, and the other themes as well.

Annette Hall, associate dean of the School Arts and Humanities, said she liked the opera.

“I thought it was great," Hall said. "This is such a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience opera music.”

Richard Campbell contributed to this article.