Vashon Opera Performs Mozart!

Choose Your Own Adventure!

Brendan and Sarah Return while Singers New to Vashon Make their Debut

Vashon Opera will perform the opera Così fan tutte by W.A. Mozart on September 14 and 16 at the Vashon High School Theatre. Several past Vashon Opera stars will return and also several new artists will debut. Brendan Tuohy who made a stunning splash with his portrayal of Martin in Vashon Opera’s The Tender Land in 2010 will return to sing the role of Ferrando and Sarah Mattox who shined with sparkling coloratura as Rosina in Vashon Opera’s production of The Barber of Seville will return to sing the role of Dorabella. New comers to Vashon Opera are Erica Row, soprano, who will portray the role of Despina and Charles Robert Austin, bass-baritone, will debut as Don Alfonso. Andrew and Jennifer Krikawa will fill out the sextet playing the roles of Guglielmo and Fiordiligi. Maestro Jim Brown will return to stage direct and conduct the chamber ensemble while Vashon’s own Joe Farmer will take on the role of chorus master.

Vashon Opera will be trying something new with this opera and it will involve audience input in the final outcome. They will provide an "Audience Choose Your Own Adventure" aspect. Mozart’s comedy begins with a bet between Don Alfonso and the two fiances, Ferrando and Guglielmo, that they will be able to switch girlfriends as "All Women Do That" is the translation of the title of the opera. Throughout the opera they try to pursue the other young lady in hopes of proving Don Alfonso wrong. In the story and music at the finale there is a wedding but Mozart and the librettist, Lorenzo da Ponte, leave the plot ambiguous as to who is marrying whom. The ladies could have gone back to their original fiances or be marrying their newly seduced boyfriend or it could remain ambiguous. In many cases the stage director decides the outcome but in Vashon Opera’s case they will have the audience choose. The performers will be prepared with 3 separate staged finales and will perform the audience’s choice of endings.

Vashon Opera is looking forward to your participation and enjoyment of this opera. "Mozart wrote his most stunning and ingenius vocal ensembles for Così. His voice part writing is really something to be admired and hearing this opera intimately will be incredibly exciting." says Jennifer Krikawa, Artistic Director of Vashon Opera, "We can’t wait to find out what adventure you will choose!"

Season tickets for Vashon Opera’s 2012-2013 season of Così fan tutte and Il tabarro/Gianni Schicchi are currently available online at vashonopera.org.

Individual tickets are available online and at Vashon Bookshop.

Performances: September 14th at 8pm and September 16th at 2:30pm at Vashon High School Theatre.

Brendan Tuohy sings Martin in Vashon Opera’s The Tender Land. Photo credit Rebecca Douglas