Virginia Opera

The Center for the Arts Offers "The Pirates of Penzance" Audiences an Immersive Journey into the World of Gilbert & Sullivan

Laura Mertens — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 17:48:31 +0000

The Center for the Arts Offers "The Pirates of Penzance" Audiences an Immersive Journey into the World of Gilbert & Sullivan Laura Mertens Tue, 11/01/2022 - 13:48

�� Libraries Special Collections Research Center

Audience members attending Virginia Opera’s production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance on November 12 or 13 can begin their journey with the opera before the curtain even rises through a November 11-16 exhibit of authentic Gilbert & Sullivan memorabilia and discussions about the operetta.

Sheet Music for The Pirates of Penzance Galop features Richard Temple as the original Pirate King. Courtesy of David and Ann Stone.

The experience will begin as soon as individuals enter the main lobby of the Center for the Arts, where they will encounter an extensive display of authentic Gilbert & Sullivan memorabilia from �� Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center. �� benefactor David Stone has spent years gathering a treasure trove of items related to the wildly popular duo of English playwright and humorist W.S. Gilbert and English composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, who created 14 comic operettas together. In 2014, Stone and his wife Ann gifted part of their extraordinary collection—including original manuscripts, posters, photographs, letters, and many other items—to �� Libraries. The David and Annabelle Stone Gilbert and Sullivan collection, now housed in the in Fenwick Library, currently contains more than 200 items and donations will be ongoing through 2026.

Photograph of Marion Hood in The Pirates of Penzance (1880/1881). Courtesy of David and Ann Stone.

In 2017, the University held a series of events to celebrate the creative genius of Gilbert & Sullivan. With great enthusiasm, the collection was exhibited and appreciated on both the Fairfax and SciTech campuses, and a catalog of the works was also created. Since that time, the collection has not been on view to the public. Now, dozens of items related to The Pirates of Penzance operetta will be on display in the Center for the Arts, presenting a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the lives and works of this Victorian-era team, considered the forefathers of modern musical theater.

In addition to the exhibit, there will also be pre-performance discussions prior to both performances, featuring Virginia Opera Resident Scholar, Joshua Borths, in Monson Grand Tier on the third level of the Center for the Arts. The discussions will commence 45 minutes prior to the start of the performances, exploring insights about the music and production. A post-performance discussion led by Borths and featuring members of the cast and creative team will also follow the November 13 matinee.

The Gilbert & Sullivan exhibit and The Pirates of Penzance discussions are perfect supplements to Virginia Opera’s production, allowing audience members to become completely immersed in the world of Gilbert & Sullivan and fully appreciate the performance.

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Special Collections Research Center

Virginia Opera Artistic Director Adam Turner Discusses Wagner's "The Valkyrie," which runs at Center for the Arts Oct. 8-9

Laura Mertens — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 01:54:49 +0000

Virginia Opera Artistic Director Adam Turner Discusses Wagner's "The Valkyrie," which runs at Center for the Arts Oct. 8-9 Laura Mertens Wed, 10/05/2022 - 21:54

^{Credit: Dave Pearson Photography}

The Center for the Arts presents Virginia Opera's production of Richard Wagner's electrifying The Valkyrie, the second opera in the epic "Ring" cycle, on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 p.m., with the third and fourth installments in the cycle to come in subsequent seasons. Virginia Opera Artistic Director Adam Turner conducts the production, which is supported in part by the Wagner Society of Washington, DC (WSWDC), and participated Sept. 29 in a livestreamed talk with WSWDC Chairman Jim Holman. In the conversation, Turner explored this Valkyrie for a new generation, discussing the reduced instrumentation of this version's score orchestrated by Jonathan Dove (starting at 20:01 in the recording), to the design (starting at 26:10) and sci-fi inspiration, from Terminator to Star Trek, and beyond.

Turner notes that in The Valkyrie "people are losing their humanity, the gods are losing their godliness, and as that happens, people start showing the underbelly." The production's imagery, described by the The Virginian Pilot as "futuristic and sci-fi...eschewing the usual Viking helmets-with-horns vibe," explores the world of analog versus digital, and as Turner says, "how nature is affected by the digital realm." He says, "our own humanity is being affected by artificial intelligence and chips and our devices... As our lives become inundated with these digital distractions, do we lose a piece of our humanity, become less human?"

Turner also discusses The Valkyrie in a post on WETA FM's new Classical Score blog by Jim Allison, program director of WETA Classical and WETA VivaLaVoce.

Watch the recording of the Sept. 29 discussion below, and catch a pre-performance discussion with Virginia Opera Resident Scholar Joshua Borths 45 minutes prior to curtain on both dates, and a post-performance discussion with the artists following the Sunday matinee.

Watch footage from Virginia Opera's The Valkyrie.

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Virginia Opera

Meghan Kasanders Makes her Wagnerian Debut in "The Valkyrie" at Center for the Arts

Laura Mertens — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 14:40:54 +0000

Meghan Kasanders Makes her Wagnerian Debut in "The Valkyrie" at Center for the Arts Laura Mertens Tue, 08/16/2022 - 10:40

Meghan Kasanders has already been hailed by The New York Times for her “authentically Wagnerian sound" and by Opera News for her "rich dramatic soprano, an instrument that displays power and sheen at all dynamic levels." You have the chance to see this rising star in action as Sieglinde in Virginia Opera’s production of Wagner's The Valkyrie at the Center for the Arts at �� on Oct. 8 and 9. Enjoy the conversation between Kasanders and Center for the Arts intern Callie Cooper, who is completing a master’s degree in vocal performance herself, below.

On singing Sieglinde:

I love how beautiful and lyrical her music is. When I’m singing it, I try to think of it as a Strauss aria, or Mozart aria. I just let the voice soar, and the music does the work.

On "Ride of the Valkyries":

The most epic music you could ever think of! My family members are not opera goers, but the two pieces of music that they know are the “Queen of the Night” aria [from Mozart's The Magic Flute] and “Ride of the Valkyries.” It’s so exciting to be in a show where that iconic music is being played.

C: What do you think an opera newbie should know about The Valkyrie or the “Ring” Cycle in general?

M: I would suggest exploring Norse mythology in general. If you do some of that research, when you come you will enjoy the opera more. When Wagner writes, everything is story driven. He does most of the job. In those orchestral interludes, close your eyes and really take in the music. It is just incredible writing. It’s not very often that we get to hear Wagner on regional stages in the U.S., so just really take advantage of it.

C: What is your favorite opera within the "Ring" Cycle?

M: Valkyrie. . . . It’s been a show that has made me think outside of the box about story lines and the difference between the gods, warriors and humans. My story line is so weird [she laughs].

On debuting in a Wagnerian role:

I’ve sung a lot of Wagner scenes and arias for years. It’s been known for a while that this has been my destination. I am very excited that this moment is here, I was very excited when I got the call. I’ve been waiting, waiting, waiting, I’m finally getting the chance to sing this music now that my voice is ready for it, I’m prepared for it.

A lot of my mentors told me it’s going to be the long game for you. I’m lucky that at 30 I’m starting down that road. The fact that this is my first opportunity to sing [this repertoire] is very exciting. I feel like Virginia is the perfect place to start this journey.

C: Any advice for young singers?

M: I would say take your time, patience is key. Don’t focus so much on the future, be really in the moment and working with the voice that you have. And being present and always putting technique and musicality [allows the voice] to develop. I took the time to develop technique and musical choices, and now when I'm here and someone asks me to do the dream job that I’ve always wanted, I can. I kind of thought maybe it wasn’t going to happen for another five to 10 years. But it’s because I put in so much work with my current voice, and then my natural voice just developed the way it’s supposed to. Really appreciating the journey that you’re on and focusing on you in the moment, not so much comparing yourself to others or thinking so far ahead in the future. You’ve just got to hone in on what's in front of you. Just focus on you and where you are at.

What can my voice do now, what feels good, and let me focus on that. Your voice will develop and you need to reevaluate every step of the way.

C: Have you worked with any of the singers in the cast?

M: Trey and I were Young Artists together. Kyle Albertson, I have seen a number of times and I have always just been in awe. I know it's just a really good group of people, I’m excited to get to know everybody!

C: What is your dream role?

M: Ariadne, that’s the dream! And Chrysthamus in Elektra, and maybe one day even Elektra. Wagner and Strauss operas are my favorite.

C: Anything else you want our audiences to know?

M: Come enjoy, come for the “Ride of the Valkyries.” Glorious music in this opera.

The Valkyrie (Oct. 8 and 9) kicks off Virginia Opera’s four productions at the Center for the Arts this season. You can subscribe to all four operas (including Pirates of Penzance, Fellow Travelers, and La Traviata) to save 20%, or choose from three or more events across the Great Performances at Mason 2022/2023 season and save 15%.

Soprano Meghan Kasanders sings “Dich, teure Halle” from Wagner’s Tannhäuser with the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Hofstetter.

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Virginia Opera

The Center for the Arts Offers "The Pirates of Penzance" Audiences an Immersive Journey into the World of Gilbert & Sullivan

�������� Libraries Special Collections Research Center

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Virginia Opera Artistic Director Adam Turner Discusses Wagner's "The Valkyrie," which runs at Center for the Arts Oct. 8-9

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Meghan Kasanders Makes her Wagnerian Debut in "The Valkyrie" at Center for the Arts

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�� Libraries Special Collections Research Center