Cosi Fan Tutti

Cosi Fan Tutti
Loveland Opera Theatre
Rialto Theater
Loveland, CO
February 22 - March 3, 2019

Cosi Fan Tutti is a well-known opera. Like many local productions, Loveland Opera Theatre looked to put their own spin on this classic.

The concept of the production was to incorporate famous works of art into the show. That seems like an odd undertaking, but it actually worked well. Each scene was set with the artwork projected in the background as a recreation formed in front of it. After the initial set up, the scene was allowed to proceed without too much focus on the painting.

The Saturday matinee performances were created especially for families. The understudies played the main roles and the presentation was narrated. Between each scene was a description of what had happened in the previous scene and what was coming up, helping the children follow along. Scene Two even allowed for the children to go onstage and be a part of the opera! Before the third scene there was a demonstration of how lighting adds to the mood of each scene. And at the end was a question and answer period.

The biggest drawback to the format what that the extra features took up so much time that the audience didn’t see a conclusion. Instead the narrator revealed how the story ended.

Because they were copying these famous works, each scene was somewhat dictated to the designer. The larger pieces like trees and fountains, were painted in the style of the artwork. The furniture was more realistic. The space was always colorful and fit the comedic tone of the opera.

The recreation of the painting allowed for fantastic costumes. Most notable were the Seurat Sunday in the Park setting for the second scene of the first act. These costumes were lovely to look at.
The third scene was brilliantly directed. While Dorabella had a rather dull aria, the rest of the characters were all carrying on silly shenanigans which kept the audience fully engaged.

The cast was talented and, since the opera was in English, were easy to understand. Usually operas geared for children do not have full chorus, so it was fun to see that in this production.
Loveland Opera Theatre has put together a comprehensive and entertaining production to introduce children to opera.  It was both education and fun, making opera accessible to those who may think of it as only for the old and stuffy. Bravissimo!

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
February 1-10, 2019

Colorado Ballet does not always play it safe. Two years ago they presented a new work – Alice in Wonderland. Alice pushed the limits of ballet. This year they presented The Wizard of Oz. The title alone was enough to sell out the run, but it was the production that got people talking.

Colorado Ballet didn’t stray too far from the classic story. The costume for Dorothy was her traditional blue gingham with sparkly red ballet shoes. The witches were spectacular with Glinda in a whimsical pink tutu decorated with silver bubbles and the Wicked Witch wore a skirt of long black ribbons. The munchkins and residents of Emerald City wore creative, crazy costumes. The sinister winged monkeys made the ones in the film seem harmless.

The sets were simple, almost cartoon-like. They were complemented by a screen with graphics to add more depth. A few times the graphics drew too much attention and took away from the live dancers on stage.

One of the most famous aspects of The Wizard of Oz is the memorable songs. The ballet version had its own soundtrack which perfectly caught the spirit of the show. The music was folksy for the scenes in Kansas and whimsical in Oz. The Wicked Witch had brass heavy interludes to announce her presence.

The dancing was an enjoyable blend of traditional ballet with modern additions. The choreography had a playful spirit and never took itself too seriously. The dancing was complimented by special effects. Both witches actually flew – so did the flying monkeys.

Taking on a classic film like The Wizard of Oz was not an easy task, but the Colorado Ballet pulled it off brilliantly.

Sondheim & Lloyd Webber Showcase

Sondheim & Lloyd Webber Showcase
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
February 9, 2019

The music of Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber dominated Broadway in the 1980’s. Although these composers have completely different styles of music, they will be forever linked. And a bit of trivia – they share the same birthday.

The Colorado Symphony brought the best known songs of these theatrical giants intone concert. The first section featured quirky selections by Sondheim. Soloist Debbie Gravitte made the most of the material. She created a commanding Mama Rose for “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” a warm Mrs. Lovett in “Not While I’m Around” and a crazed bride to be in “Not Getting Married Today.”  “Send in the Clowns,” beautifully sung by Scarlett Strallen, more resembled the intimate moment in A Little Night Music than the pop song it became.

The second half of the concert showcased the well-known songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber. All three soloists showed incredible vocal skill for these selections. Debbie showed she was more than a  character actress with her rendition of “Memory.” The undeniable highlight of the show was Hugh Panero’s performance of “The Music of the Night” which led to an immediate standing ovation. The night ended with a creative mash up of “Love Changes Everything,” “Unexpected Song” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.”

The Sondheim and Lloyd Webber Showcase not only demonstrated the timeless beauty of the music of these two composers but also gave the symphony and soloists an opportunity to shine. It was a delightful night of magnificent music.

Symphonic Tribute to Comic Con

Symphonic Tribute to Comic Con
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
February 8, 2019

The Salute to Comic Con has become a biannual tradition at the Colorado Symphony appealing to cosplayers and pop culture geeks alike. With a wealth of music to choose from, it is never the same concert.

This year, the conducting duties were shared by associate conductor Christopher Dragon and video game composer Austin Wintory. Dragon led the movie and television themes while Wintory appropriately conducted the video game music.

The program began with the theme from Game of Thrones. Christopher Dragon entered dressed as a dragon. It was the first of his four costumes. He also wore costumes for Darth Vader, Harry Potter and Gandolf the wizard.

The video game music was less familiar, but still fascinating to listen to. Soloist Marissa Rudd immaculately performed “I Was Born For This” demonstrating that not only is gaming music beautiful, but also complex.

 Throughout the concert, upcoming movie in concert performances were promoted. Selections from Mary Poppins, The Empire Strikes Back and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince were played with a reminder of these dates coming up.

The concert concluded with a suite from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings. This was a new piece for the symphony and the music shone.

This year the performance did not feature cosplayers as it has it in the past, which was a bit of a disappointment. Not as many audience members were dressed in costume. So the atmosphere was not as festive as in years past. However the music was beautifully played and outside of its original context, it took on a life of its own.

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
November 24 - December 24, 2018

The Nutcracker has become an annual tradition for many families in the Denver area. The Colorado Ballet production sells out year after year. For good reason.

Colorado Ballet again managed to balance the traditional elegance of their performances with a few changes just to make things interesting. The comedic touches were enjoyable. The Mouse King's death varies from year to year, but it managed to be funny as well. Mother Ginger had her usual homage to modern dances which always entertain. Some the the background action was quite enjoyable - even though most audiences missed it.

The costumes were stunning, as usual. The traditional garments of the sweets and flowers were a beautiful accompaniment to a new Sugar Plum Fairy ensemble.

The Colorado Ballet production is a prime example of why audiences return year after year. The charm never gets old for the beautiful music and dancing. The attention to detail brings the magic to life whether you'e seen it every year or if this was the first time.

A Colorado Christmas

A Colorado Christmas
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
December 14-16, 2018

A Colorado Christmas is a holiday tradition at the Colorado Symphony. It’s a concert with a sampling of music that will satisfy every taste. Even though it is an annual event, the lineup of songs changed significantly from last year.

This year’s selections were less familiar than previous years. They included “Ceremony of Carols,” “Hodie Christmas” and “A Christmas Festival.”

Soloist Devin DeSantis led the audience in a sing along of more famous songs and performed the essential selections by Irving Berlin. And right before intermission was “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” performed by the Colorado Children’s Choral joined by Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

Always a favorite were the selections from Too Hot to Handel. The Hallelujah Chorus created a joyful moment in the show. And it wouldn’t be complete without “Sleigh Ride” where the audience actually got to see all the musical special effects.

As always, A Colorado Christmas provided the musical backdrop for the holiday season. It was a wonderful way for families to celebrate and expose their children to classical music.

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood
Boulder Opera
Nomad Playhouse
Boulder Colorado
December 8-9, 2018

Every December, Boulder Opera presents a short opera designed for young audiences. It is a wonderful opportunity to expose young children to opera without losing their attention. This year’s performance was Little Red Riding Hood.

Before the show was a short introduction to opera terms, including a lesson in Bravo, Brava and Bravi. It set the stage for a first opera experience.

The set of the show was wildly creative. The entire stage was covered with artificial grass with flowers near the edge. A small house was nestled in one corner.

Little Red was pretty and exuberant. She easily engaged the audience. The Wolf, on the other hand, was charming and obviously up to no good. His baritone was deliciously dark in tone. A group of children played the woodsmen. Some were more talented than others, but they played their roles well.

Midway through the show was another instruction session. That took away from the momentum of the show. Especially considering there was a question and answer session afterwards as well.

The intimate Nomad Playhouse was an ideal place for this show. The only issue was at the end during he cast meet and greet in the tiny lobby. But the performers stayed around until every child had a chance to speak with their favorite character.