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OperaNotes Review
CAMI Concert Hall
July 21, 2004
By Charlene Frank
OPERAtion Kerry
an Opera Gala
Fundraiser for John Kerry for President
Hosts: Charlene Frank, Cheryl Evans,
Ginger Brokaw, David Rebhun
Producers: Charlene
Frank, Cheryl Evans
Program Designer: Cheryl Evans
Speakers:
Charlene Frank, Mayor Meryl Frank,
Highland Park, NJ
Cast:
Sopranos: Cheryl Evans, Arianna Zukerman, Karen Frankenstein
Tenor: Andrew Drost
Bass Baritones: Mark Uhlemann, T.
Steven Smith
Bass: Eric Johnson
and
Pianist: David Rebhun
I wasn't sure if it would be appropriate for me to write a review about an event in which I participated, but it's my website, so I suppose I can do whatever I want! And because the concert was so amazing, I will do just that.
On July 21st the level of talent in this very small hall could easily rival the
level of talent across the street at Carnegie Hall, or any opera venue anywhere The house was full,
but that only meant about 140 people, and that was including the volunteers.
The evening was put together to support the campaign for John Kerry for
President, and to "save the world through beautiful music". The night brought in
over $16,000, and people were moved. But it wasn't just about politics, it was
about opera. And a lot of it was about opera for people who had never seen
or heard an opera before. And this was the perfect group of people to
introduce opera newcomers to the wonderful world of opera.
The cast for this concert was a small group of hugely talented and generous New Yorkers who donated their time and giant talent to ensure that OPERAtion Kerry would not only be successful, but would be one of the best operatic events in New York City this summer. The repertoire, put together by Cheryl Evans, was skillfully arranged to ensure that the most sophisticated opera aficionado and those who never imagined themselves in an opera house would be captured and transported to the place only opera can send a person.
The evening began with one of the most stunning renditions of the Star Spangled Banner that I've ever heard. Seven opera singers and one pianist filled the room like an entire chorus. It was the perfect start to a perfect evening.
This unique group of performers gave us an evening that was absolutely thrilling. They worked together as though they had been doing it forever. Arianna Zukerman and Mark Uhlemann, who met only once before the the concert, performed Mozart's song of seduction from Don Giovanni, Là ci darem la mano so convincingly, she with such elegance and he with such cunning, that there was no opera newcomer in the audience who needed an English translation.
Andrew Drost, who has been singing opera for only three years performed that most dangerous of arias, Donizetti's Ah! mes amis. Everyone who was familiar with this difficult aria held their breath, telling the person next to them, here it comes, here it comes, will he make it? And make it he did, and more! He even threw in a high D for us! And then, to top it off, he held the last high C until it took the breath right out of me! Simply amazing. And to think, Mr. Drost started out as a ballet dancer! Opera got lucky!
Soprano Karen Frankenstein performed Bernstein's Glitter and Be Gay from Candide brilliantly. This piece, which amuses us with the very difficult decisions, diamonds or virtue, can break the unpolished soprano. But Ms. Frankenstein dazzled us, reaching high E flat with the sheer ease and grace.
Eric D. Johnson grabbed the audience with the first solo performance of the evening as Dr. Bartolo in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. He performed La Vendetta with the mean doctor's vengeance. His bass is powerful and could easily fill a room several times the size of Cami Hall.
Steven T. Smith bought us the evil stepfather Don Magnifico in Rossini's La Cenerentola. Yes, in Rossini's version of Cinderella, it is the evil stepfather, not the evil stepmother. The character is greedy and silly, which he did excellently, but he also brought us the power of Magnifico's magnificent voice.
Cheryl Evans did just about everything. She recruited the performers for the gala, she designed the program and she performed. And wow, did she perform! When she and Andrew Drost performed Bellini's Nel mirarti un solo istante and she hit 'that note' a little girl in the audience turned to me and gave me 2 thumbs up. Could there be a better review? Two thumbs up from a 9-year old - perfect!
Ms. Evans is known for her role as Queen of the Night from Die Zieberflote. Tonight, most people who know her work were disappointed to see that it was not in the program. They were disappointed until they heard her sing the premiere performance of David Rebhun's Queen of the Day. Mr. Rebhun, pianist, conductor, composer and outstanding accompanist in this gala gave us this delightful sequel to the Queen of the Night, and it was received with gusto. Bravo to you Mr. Rebhun.
The final opera aira brought seven of the eight singers to the stage for Chi mi frena in tal momento from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermore. It was the perfect operatic wind up to a thrilling operatic evening. And after that, to remind us that it was a fund raiser, came a rousing "It's a Grand Old Flag". The audience simply loved it.
Bravi to all the wonderful and generous performers. Everyone wanted to know if you always perform together, if you had your own opera company. Hmmm... Let's think about that one.