Song and Laughs with the Opera Workshop and Humboldt Symphony

Call it comic opera or “opera buffo,” the bottom line is that it’s fun. “Fainting, hiding behind chairs but still singing loud enough for the audience to hear, exaggerated dramatic situations and far-fetched resolutions,” is how HSU Opera Workshop director Elisabeth Harrington describes the comic opera to be performed by Workshop singers with the Humboldt Symphony on Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7.

It’s called La Canterina (translated as “The Songstress” or “The Diva”) by Joseph Haydn, a tale of a romantic misunderstanding. “The comic style is very entertaining and appealing, even to non-opera loving audiences.” Harrington added. “We’ll perform the opera mostly in English but with many Italian phrases included, to capture the flavor and style of the language.”

Lead singers in La Canterina are Sarah Benzinger (as Gasparina, a popular opera singer); Katherine Kinley (Apollonia, Gasparina’s assistant and pal); Lindsey Tewksbury (Don Ettore, a teenage boy in love with Gasparina, a role often sung by a female) and Chris Hatcher (Don Pelagio, Gasparina's singing teacher, who is also inlove with Gasparina).

La Canterina is also a chamber opera, requiring a small number of singers. Such is not the case with the other work on the program, the Act II finale of Die Fledermaus by Johann Straus II, which will include all 22 singers of the Opera Workshop. “This is a fun party scene featuring both solo and ensemble singing,” Harrington said. This version of the work even includes dancing.

Nor will the instrumental accompaniment be small—for either work. The Humboldt Symphony, directed by Paul Cummings, collaborates on both. “The addition of the orchestra makes the whole performance go up a notch in sophistication,” Harrington said. “Both groups of students gain the benefit of working together. The collaboration is great between faculty too!”

The combined performance of the HSU Opera Workshop and the Humboldt Symphony begins at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students/seniors, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. Free to HSU students with ID.

Media: Humboldt State Now, North Coast Journal, Arcata Eye.