Scoop Review: Auckland Opera Fans Lend Me Your Ear

Friday, 16 September 2011, 5:46 pm
Article: Scoop Review

For all those Sicilian opera and Francis Ford Coppola fans out there here's your chance to bask in the classic inspiration the master film director drew on for his final of the Godfather trilogy.

Peter Auty-Turiddu & Anna Shafajinskaia-Santuzza in Cav.

Cavalleria Rusticana is the first part of this double-billing event performed by the NBR New Zealand Opera with an international star cast at Auckland's Aotea Centre. It is followed by the clever twisting tale of Pagliacci.

The brilliant Sicilian opera Cavalleria Rusticana is a classic tragedy, a story of unattainable love, of hope, betrayal and vengeance. The theme can be chartered in many stories performed today, but none have the heady traditions of old Sicilian folk-law, culture, where honour was a most prized possession for both women and men. The Sicilian challenge, of biting an opponent's ear, is such a simple yet violent symbolism. Within the plot is a palpable knowing that where honour is taken or challenged, the outcome will so surely be death.

Cavalleria Rusticana was composed by Pietro Mascagni, first performed in Rome on May 17 1890, and based on a short story by Giovanni Verga.

Anna Shafajinskaia as Santuzza in Cav.

The opera's music is performed brilliantly by the Auckland Philharmonia. There's passion, power, sadness and vengeance to be felt as the Philharmonia rises and ebbs, a perfect back-layer to this performance's outstanding operatic cast.

The stars of this performance span the stage: from the wonderful children in the chorus and choir who mastered the challenge of choreography, timing and song, who delivered with their adult co-performers a real treat. There's even a star or two inside the chorus including the wonderful Kirsten Morrell of Golden Horse fame, a versatile talent indeed.

But the performance of the top five line up is sensational. The star cast is: Anna Shafajinskaia (Ukraine) playing the jilted Santuzza, Peter Auty England) playing the womanising rogue Turiddu, Marcin Bronikowski (Poland) playing Alfio who is betrayed by the wife he adores, Anna Pierard New Zealand) who absolutely nails the sultry character Lola, and wonderful ole Mamma Lucia played by Wendy Doyle (New Zealand).

Marcin Bronikowski as Alfio (left) & Peter Auty as Turiddu in Cav.

This group of five present a rare opportunity for New Zealand audiences to witness world class opera. It is breathtaking, it's athletic. Anna Shafajinskaia's repertoire, the power, passion, beauty, is to the ear what a masterpiece is to the eye. And Peter Auty presents all shades of the likable yet loathsome Turiddu.

The music will be familiar to those who have seen Godfather 3. Coppola brought into his screen play the themes found within Cavalleria Rusticana, but in a way that entwined the present and past. In the movie, the opera was performed on stage while an age-old Sicilian tragedy was enacted by present day characters. Vendetta were committed upon those who sought to destroy the family's honour and once again blood stained the conclusion of the sad tale.

Anna Shafajinskaia as Santuzza in Cav.

*******

Of course, as is often the tradition, Cavalleria Rusticana is accompanied by Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci. These two operas have become joined at the hip. Pagliacci is a story that follows similar themes to Cavalleria Rusticana, but yet, there's a spark to the tempo. Pagliacci is the classic play within a play, again this is a typical Sicilian tragedy, but with a sting in its tale.

Elizabeth Futral as Nedda & Rafael Rojas as Canio in Pag.

Pagliacci was composed by Ruggiero Leoncavallo and was first performed in Milan on May 21 1892.

This opera conjures up an empathy for the poor unusual Tonio who despite being outwardly awkward, even ugly, confesses to having feelings for his colleague actress Nedda. Needless to say things become complex and beyond the ability of these simple souls to fathom without giving way to the darker sides of their emotions.

Warwick Fyfe (left) as Tonio & Rafael Rojas as Canio in Pag.

Warwick Fyfe (Australia) is amazing as Tonio, Elizabeth Futral (United States) plays with fire as the dangerously flirtatious Nedda, Rafael Rojas (Mexico) portrays the brooding but loved Canio, Andrew Glover (New Zealand) is fabulous as Beppe, and Marcon Bronikowski (Poland) this time feels the sharp edge of the knife as Silvo.

Elizabeth Futral as Nedda & Rafael Rojas as Canio in Pag.

Elizabeth Futral as Nedda & Andrew Glover as Beppe in Pag.

Pagliacci is as it states, a prologue, and its second act contains a clever twist, a challenging opera to perform, but a perfect partner to the amazing Cavalleria Rusticana.

Again, the performance is exceptional.

The audience could well be satisfied should they come along simply to hear these performers sing. But add to this the theatre of these two operatic tragedies, and one is assured of a fabulous night at the opera, I can assure you it will be an event that you will never forget.

More Info:

Cav and Pag is playing at the Aotea Centre, Auckland City, from September 15, 17, 21, 23 with the curtain raising at 7:30pm, and September 25 at 2:30pm.

For bookings, see Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci | NBR NZ Opera | The Civic - THE EDGE

For more, see www.nzopera.com

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