Saturday, November 22, 2008

The University of Maryland's "white opera" is a tease.

Each fall, the university's opera studio puts on a production with colorless muslin costumes and no orchestra -- it's also called the "piano opera," though for Benjamin Britten's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," there were bells and a harp as well. There was plenty to enjoy during Thursday night's performance at the Clarice Smith Center for the Performing Arts, which was conducted by Daniel Walshaw and directed by Nick Olcott. But one was frustratingly aware that this was not quite the opera's full splendor and that the singers were not quite at their best.

An affectionate and imaginative adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy, "Midsummer" is full of action, humor and intricacy. It's refreshing to see a composer so well remembered for intense works such as "Peter Grimes" and the "War Requiem" having some fun, with characteristically meandering vocal lines whimsically decorated by staccati, dreamy choral harmonies for the fairy band and dexterously woven ensembles for the lovers. Why isn't this performed more often?

For one, it's tough, and although many cast members had substantial professional experience and were capable of both producing lovely sounds and working the stage, all could benefit from their program's intensive technical study. Jennifer Forni, who played Helena, showed the most promise, with a warm, gleaming lyric soprano that was most appealing at lower dynamic levels. In the spring, she and other cast members are scheduled to perform "Eugene Onegin" and "Xerxes." With another semester of hard work behind them and the support of full productions, it will be exciting to see what they can do.

-- Ronni Reich