honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, March 5, 2002

Hawaii Opera Theatre embraces 'Coming of Age' for 2003 season

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

The 2002 Hawaii Opera Theatre season focused on "Wanton Women" such as Salome. Next year's theme is "Coming of Age."

Advertiser library photo • Feb. 2002

From "Wanton Women" this year to "Coming of Age" next year, the Hawaii Opera Theatre is into themes.

Winding up its 2002 season this week with Georges Bizet's "Carmen," one of three "Wanton Women" operas, HOT is banking on a "Coming of Age" theme for its 2003 season.

"We've tried to theme, and it seems to be working well," said Henry Akina, general and artistic director. "Hopefully, this will give some insight into values, to stimulate thought. Not all operas are the same, and the works span 400 years. But the themes are there, to make the audiences aware."

The 2003 season will feature:

"Eugene Onegin," by Peter Tchaikovsky, Jan. 31, Feb. 2 and 4 — It's a timeless story of cocksure youth, learning painfully difficult lessons about arrogance and willfulness. Cast: David Templeton as Onegin, Aimee Willis as Tatiana, Elena Bocharova as Olga and Dorothy Byrne as Filipievna. Sung in Russian. William Fred Scott of the Atlanta Opera conducts the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.

"The Magic Flute," by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Feb. 14, 16 and 18 — True love is tested in this favorite, in which music speaks of reason and goodness and ultimately triumphs over darkness and deceit. With Jacqueline Venable as Pamina, Justin Vickers as Tamino, Lea Woods Friedman as Papagena, John Mount as Sarastro. Sung in German. Matthew Latta conducts.

"La Bohome," by Giacomo Puccini, Feb. 28, and March 2, 4 and 6. It's an enduring coming-of-age story, possibly the one modern audiences can relate to the best, since it is the inspiration for the rock opera, "Rent," about young lovers and their bohemian lifestyle as they cope with jagged realities and human mortality. With Jay Hunter Morris as Rodolfo, Juliana Rambaldi as Mimi, Wilber Pauley as Colline, Allison England as Musetta and Quinn Kelsey as Marcello. Sung in Italian. Conductor to be announced.

English supertitles will be displayed over the proscenium.

Performances, at Blaisdell Concert Hall, will be at 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 p.m. Sundays, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and for the lone fourth-show performance on a Thursday of "La Bohome."

Early-bird subscriptions are available through March 31, with prices ranging from $72 to $255 for all three productions.

Starting on April 1, subscriptions will cost $75 to $270. Individual tickets will not be available until fall. Reservations: 596-7858 or hawaiiopera.org.