Featuring Walterdale Members Christina O’Dell, Russ Farmer and Lyndsey Cohen!
Pop Goes the Opera is proud to present Cavalleria Rusticana at the 35th Edmonton International Fringe Festival! An opera masterpiece with music to die for, Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana is a passionate exploration of love and betrayal in rustic Sicily. Turiddu returns from military service to find his beloved married to another man. As the tragedy unfolds, the characters spiral into a passionate storm of jealousy and revenge. True to the “verismo” style it represents, this one-act opera portrays the realistic troubles of realistic people, who are simply so overcome by the situations they face that merely speaking their feelings does not suffice; emotions bubble over and voices soar in glorious song, promising an unforgettable experience for audiences at the 2016 Fringe Festival!
Cavalleria Rusticana is Pop Goes the Opera’s inaugural production; it is both a labour of love and a dream come true for it’s Edmontonian cast and crew. The company was formed by friends with the intent of sharing a love and understanding of this unique art form with the community as a whole, while showcasing the immensely talented operatic performers who call Edmonton home. The cast is comparatively large for a fringe show (5 principal singers supported by a chorus of 14 and an orchestra of 4). Additionally, members of choirs around the city have joined us for the singing of the opera’s grand chorus showpiece the “Easter Hymn”. Our show is very much a community effort; very apt given that we portray a tight knit Italian community onstage. We hope that audiences will, for the brief time we are together, be able to share in this sense of community with us. In fact, we are so excited for people to share in our world that printed copies of the well known “Easter Hymn” will be available to audience members who want to join in the singing of this iconic piece, accompanied by the magnificent organ at Holy Trinity Church!
Cast:
Turridu: Andrea Pinna
Lola: Kimberley McMann
Alfio: Bertrand Malo
Santuzza: Janine Bremault Bamford
Lucia: Stephanie Bent
Chorus: Lydia-Ann Levesque, Jill Hoogewoonink, Heeyun Park, Betty Kolodziej, Julia Grigaitis, Christina O’Dell, Glynis Price, Rob Rock, Francis Price, Mathew Glenn, Gavin Belik, Russ Farmer, Fred Kasujja, & Tim Lo
Orchestra:
Kim Cousineau (piano)
Ria Busink (organ)
Mindy Lamont (cello)
Lyndsey Cohen (oboe)
Director: Glynis Price
Assistant Director: Jill Hoogewoonink
Music Director/Conductor: Stuart Sladden