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The Honolulu Advertiser
It's opera, and it'll be grand | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted on: Friday, February 2, 2007

It's opera, and it'll be grand

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

The biblical tale "Samson & Dalila" launches the grand-opera season in Honolulu.

Photos by CORY LUM | Hawaii Opera Theatre

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Mark Lundberg is Samson, Malgorzata Walewska is Dalila in a tragic tale of love and deception.
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Lawrence Harris, as the High Priest of Dagon, with Walewska.
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Opera can be for everyone — with some preparatory work.

Hawaii Opera Theatre's season of grand opera kicks off Friday night with Saint-Saens' "Samson & Dalila" at Blaisdell Concert Hall (continuing with Sunday and Tuesday performances).

Prevailing theme this season? Dangerous liaisons, tapping the perils passion may bring.

It's easy to follow the plot — "Samson" is a biblical tale of love, lies, secrets and sacrifice — even if you don't wholly understand what Samson (sung by Mark Lundberg), the leader of the Israelites, experiences with his entanglements with the seductive priestess of Dagon, Dalila (Malgorzata Walewska), leading to imprisonment and shame. The opera's in French, but there are English supertitles.

If you're fairly new to opera, it's never too late to explore becoming a fan. Some helpful tips:

  • HOT's other productions: "Don Giovanni," by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Feb. 16, 18 and 20, in Italian; "Madama Butterfly," by Giacomo Puccini, March 2, 4 and 6 (with a possible extension March 8), in Italian.

  • Prep talks: On the Sunday preceding a Friday opening, Erik Haines, HOT director of education, offers a preview. For "Giovanni," it's Feb. 11; for "Butterfly," Feb. 25. 1 p.m. at Borders Ward Centre. Free.

  • Behind the scenes: A more formal perspective is shared in 45-minute sessions at the Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts. For "Giovanni," at 10 a.m. Feb. 8 and 4 p.m. Feb. 10; for "Butterfly," at 10 a.m. Feb. 22 and 4 p.m. Feb. 24. Seating is limited; free for HOT members, $3 for others.

  • Pre-curtain lectures: If you hold a ticket, you can get additional enlightenment 30 and 60 minutes before curtain of each performance, on the lanai of the concert hall.

  • Aural education: Rent or borrow a DVD performance or a cast recording of the show to get a handle on characters, language and plot. And you can hear the music, too.

  • Inspiring other genres: "Samson & Dalila" was an epic 1949 film, "Samson & Delilah," by Cecil B. DeMille; the Broadway musical "Miss Saigon" is influenced by the plot of "Madama Butterfly."

    'SAMSON & DALILA'

    An opera by Camille Saint-Saens, produced by the Hawaii Opera Theatre

    8 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

    Blaisdell Concert Hall

    Single tickets: $29-$120

    Season tickets: $81-$333

    Little-known fact: $20 for students of any age, if space is available

    596-7858, www.hawaiiopera.org

    Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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