Larger-than-life voices and emotions overtook the Recital Hall on Nov. 14 as students in the Cal State Fullerton Opera Theatre program performed opera excerpts in “Opera Scenes: Family Ties.”
Directed by Opera Studies Professor Kerry Jennings, the Opera Theatre program has been at CSUF for over 40 years. The program has students of all ranges, from undergraduates to graduate students, and has produced performers such as Deborah Voigt, Renée Tatum, Charles Castronovo and Christopher Job.
Opera is defined as a drama set to music that contains orchestral accompaniment. Jennings pointed out that despite common misconceptions that musicals are text-driven and operas are music-driven; they embed text and emotion into the music that acts as a driving force for storytelling.
The show opened with a note from the director emphasizing that the core of opera is about connection, typically through music, emotion, character and audience. People are at the center of opera and this production explored familial bonds, either by choice, circumstance or blood.
This year’s class had a staggering 56 students with a range of skill levels; therefore, the production contained 13 scenes split by an intermission for accommodation. The opera scenes performed included “Les Contes d’Hoffmann,” “Susannah” and “The Tender Land.”
The production began with Scene 2 from the second act of “Louise” by Gustave Charpentier. In the scene, Louise has fallen in love with her neighbor, to the disapproval of her mother and teasing from other seamstresses. She is then whisked away by a romantic serenade while the other women watch in admiration. The production is a display of incredible vocal talent that continues through every performance and never lets up.
The show ended with “The Promise of Living,” the ending of Act 1 of “The Tender Land” by Aaron Copland. The song is an optimistic hymn of gratitude which was sung by a quintet of soloists who are later joined by the entire company, ending the show in a beautiful euphony of singing.
The highlight of the night was Act 1, Scene 5 of “Susannah” by Carlisle Floyd, which delivered gut-wrenching emotions and vocal performances. The scene sees the protagonist pondering why she has been shunned by her community while her admirer admits to being coerced by the town’s elders to say he was seduced by her.
Vocal performance graduate student Katelyn Cruz, who plays Susannah, has felt a strong impact in life on the role she played.
“It has challenged me in ways that I never thought,” Cruz said. “It’s very emotional, it’s a very dramatic scene and honestly it kind of makes me happy to see that I am able to dig into that side of my emotions and getting into character.”
Cruz has been performing for over 10 years vocally, but it wasn’t until her freshman year at CSUF that her vocal teacher encouraged her to try out opera.
For vocal performancegraduate student and Student Stage Director Rachel Williams, she said she believes the theme of familial bonds was a perfect match for the cast and crew.
“I think it embodies what we are as a program and as a school; I think that having a theme like this is really special,” Williams said. “CSUF has such a great community. It’s really cool to see us all come together like a family.”
The musical accompaniment was provided by pianists and music directors Mark Salters and David Bergstedt and conducted by Adrian Rangel-Sanchez, a graduate student in choral conducting.
Director Jennings said he wanted audiences to leave uplifted.
“In our troubled times, they will let the music and the message of what family is and how that can strengthen our resolve to overcome obstacles,” Jennings said. “I hope that they leave here just feeling good about, hopefully, what the future holds for them.”