The Case for the Lesser Known Opera

It’s staggering to me that there are over 2,500 operas and yet today’s opera companies perform the same top 10 over and over again.  This is a trend because yes -  the top 10 or top 20 are great works - but also because it’s a huge financial risk for any opera company not to fill the seats for their performances. This spring folks ask “What is your spring opera?” and I answer “Albert Herring” and they respond “I haven’t heard of that one!”.  Yes, I know.  It’s not done very often.  

Albert Herring was composed by Benjamin Britten in 1947. We chose this British comedy with zany characters and an amusing story to perhaps let you dip your big toe into a Britten adventure. Britten  wrote many operas with dark plot lines and disturbing content  like The Rape of Lucretia, Peter Grimes, and Turn of the Screw.  Britten’s musical genius is still very much evident in Albert Herring as in his darker stories, but we thought May would be a wonderful time for this light farce as the story surrounds a May-time event.

My parents, having a daughter who is an opera singer, have attended many operas.  Oh - so many operas!  When Vashon Opera became an opportunity for me to choose which operas we produced my father asked, “ Why don’t you do something interesting?  Not the same operas.”  My father, over the years, has sent me titles of operas they have heard that are more obscure perhaps performed by a small local opera company (they currently live back East), a commission from an “A” opera house like the MET or on the radio.  The ones he has said are interesting, at least in my interpretation of his reasoning for backing them, there exists a common theme: moments of beauty and innovation.  My dad didn’t necessarily love the plot or every musical section in each one, but he found something beautiful at some point in the opera that made it viable for exploration.  I have had a plan with the opera company to present each season one top 10 opera and one opera that is not done as often…which then stretches our audience and our musical palettes.  Singers and instrumentalists like to be a part of works that they rarely get a chance to do too.  With a small opera company I believe this is possible.  We can explore together and the hope is that our Island fans or maybe even those who are a little neutral about opera will come along with us.

In the first few rehearsals of Albert Herring I heard those very things I was seeking - interesting music -  moments of beauty and innovation.  One section called “The Threnody” when all the principals are singing at the same time will absolutely blow you away with its beauty and force.  Also my husband, Andy, who is playing the role of the Sid, has been (for the past 3 months) just randomly - pretty constantly bellowing out lines from Albert Herring.  Usually they aren’t even his own lines.  For example: “Give me a decent murder with a corpse.”, “Have a nice peach”, “Albert’s got willups!”, “Chinwagging! What an awful lot of rot!”.  You should definitely come just to find out what these lines mean.

As to the 10 principal opera singers, our 3 youth singers, our musical director, pianist and the orchestra you will be in awe.  In awe of their talent and abilities but also that they have taken on a very difficult challenge.  They all want so much to do the work justice and come together as an amazing force expressing this music and story. They are excellent.
Norm Hollingshead will be giving his free preview lecture at the Vashon library on Saturday, May 9 at 2pm. He always does an incredible job explaining the plot and all kinds of interesting details.  If you are not sure then check that out and I bet Norm will convince you to go ahead and give Albert Herring a try.

I think to find interesting operas that have beauty and innovation we need to take risk. In order for an opera company to take this risk we need your support.  We won’t stop doing top 10 operas (Next year we are planning to produce The Elixir of Love by Donizetti and I Pagliacci by Leoncavallo - two huge hits) so please don’t think if you support this, we won’t perform the popular masterworks we also love!

On Vashon we say “Keep Vashon Weird” so I’m letting you know Vashon Opera is doing its part.  This isn’t an opera you know but take a chance on it.  I promise you will be thoroughly entertained.  You will witness moments of beauty, hilarity, innovation and incredible talent.  

- Jennifer Krikawa, Artistic Director of Vashon Opera
Albert Herring will play at Bethel Church on Friday, May 15 at 8pm and Sunday, May 17 at 2:30pm.  There will be a reduced rate Dress Rehearsal Wednesday, May 13 at 7pm.  Tickets can be purchased at Vashon Bookshop or online at www.vashonopera.org.