Musical Form Returns to Woonsocket

It was in the early 1960s that the Woonsocket Opera House closed, marking the end of fully staged opera in the city.  This musical form is making a come-back in the “city on the move.”   On Saturday evening April 16, 2011 at 7:30 p.m., the Rhode Island College (RIC) Department of Music, Theater and Dance brings its Opera Workshop to the .                 

At RIC, Opera Workshop is a course of study where students learn the art form of opera.  They learn everything from music to presentation, repertoire, vocal technique, stage movement and staging, beginning their road from student to consummate professional.  The workshop is a two semester (fall and spring) intensive study program.  During the fall semester, students participate in master-classes with world reknown artists in the field, some of whom are graduates of RIC.  These artists include Italian repertoire conductor and coach John Mario Di Costanzo, voice classes with Metropolitan Opera veterans Mary Philips (RIC Grad) and Maria Spacagna (who, incidentally, first studied singing here in Woonsocket.)  Susan Rodgers (Opera Workshop Co-Director) presented basics of operatic stage movement, Dr. Edward Markward (Opera Workshop Co-Director) recitative and scene coaching, Diana McVey (RIC Grad) gave auditioning techniques, Trinity Rep’s longtime resident actor Fred Sullivan Jr. conducted an improve workshop, Angellica Vessella presented expressive movement and Bill Wilson taught classes in stage movement.  All of this is presented in one intensive semester.                 

The spring semester consists of putting everything the students learned in the previous semester into practice. Students learn and stage scenes from several classic and contemporary operas and then present them in performances all over the state.  Scenes will include Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel, The Consul by Gian-Carlo Menotti, Così fan tutte, Die Zauberflöte and Act II of Le nozze di Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor by Otto Nicolai, Dialogues des Carmélites by Francis Poulenc, La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, and Street Scene by Kurt Weill. Accompanying the singers are pianists Christina Breindel and Brandon Donahue.  Co-Directors are Susan Rodgers and Dr. Edward Markward.               

Not to worry, all of the scenes will be sung in English!  If you have never experienced opera, this is the perfect opportunity to experience it and to put aside stereotypes that surround this magnificent musical form.               

There is a cast of 21 singers making their debuts including some locals – Arielle Rogers (Woonsocket), Matthew Quinn (East Providence), Kristina Marsland (Burrillville), Erin Flood (Smithfield), Jacqueline Pina (Cranston), Meagan McNulty (Rumford), James Suchodolski (Cumberland), Daniel Pelletier (North Smithfield), Jessica Schloesser (Riverside), Cory Waldron (Lincoln), Sheila Humphrey (East Providence), Sarah Kane (Smithfield), Alexandra MacDonald (Portsmouth), Grace Norton (Pawtucket), Corey Mulvey (Cumberland), Martha Gannon (New Bedford, MA), Derrick Souza (Berkley, MA), Jen Benjamin (Sharon, MA), Kaylin Petracca (Upton, MA), Aimee-Rose Willett (Putnam, CT) and Christina Cotter (Middletown, CT.)              

With this article is a video presentation of pictures and an audio recording of one of the Opera Workshop rehearsals.

Opera Workshop - Saturday evening April 16, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $10 General, $7 Students/Seniors, $5 Children under 12 and $5 Members.  For tickets and information call 401-356-0713 or visit . The Opera Workshop performance is being sponsored by Citizens Bank, Ledoux & Company Inc - Certified Public Accountants, and  Rene & Claudette Marquis.

Live opera under the magnificent frescos of the - It just doesn't get any better than that!

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