Fire-breathing serpent part of special scenery planned for Modesto company’s show
A serpent opens the season with fire-breathing flair for Opera Modesto.
The company presents “The Magic Flute” Oct. 15 and 17 at the Gallo Center for the Arts, opening its 2021-22 season.
Mozart’s final opera, it’s a “fairytale full of unusual twists and turns, and will be enjoyed by children and adults alike,” according to a press release from Opera Modesto.
The opening scene begins with an animated fire-breathing serpent created by Modesto native Christopher Flores. Scenery will be projected for the production, created by local artist Shirlee Rudel.
Modesto’s Central West Ballet Artistic Director René Daveluy also choreographed part of the show, the release said.
“At the most basic, it is a fantastical evening full of sorcerers, heroes, magical instruments, wild animals, and special effects,” according to the release. “... it is a work full of gorgeous music, comical star turns, laughter, sorrow, and some genre defining hits, from Papageno and Papagena’s love duet to the Queen of the Night’s fiery high notes.”
Opera Modesto searched for an area artist to create the projected backdrops and found Rudel. “Shirlee’s mystic/nature/native inspired paintings and etchings will provide the beautiful scenery” for the production,” the release said.
“Most theatrical and operatic scenery is traditionally constructed and painted, occasionally also incorporating projected images” a second press release from Opera Modesto said. “As technology has advanced, however, some productions now consist almost entirely of intensely projected images.”
Company using new technology
This is the first time Opera Modesto is using the technology. It will feature both rear and front projections that are 40 feet wide and 22 feet tall, using two projectors.
“I am honored to have my work used in ‘The Magic Flute,’” Rudel said in the release. “I believe my connection to the opera is another mystical happening ...” She was told years ago that her work was similar to Marc Chagall, who she said did art for the opera in the ’60s.”
Rudel will display some of her works in the Gallo Center lobby before and during intermission of the performances.
Modesto native and Modesto High School graduate Christopher Flores is a digital artist who “constructed an exciting animated video sequence of a flying, fire-breathing dragon that will pursue Prince Tamino at the beginning of the opera,” the first release said.
“This is a unique experience for me and something not often brought up in the art industry,” Flores said in a release. “When I hear the word ‘Opera,’ I don’t think of computer graphics, but rather tradition and history. My goal with this project is to inspire the younger generation to come to the opera and experience new possibilities.”
The production stars national and international soloists, according to the release, including soprano Yoo Ri Clark as Princess Pamina; tenor Michael Desnoyers as Prince Tamino; coloratura soprano Shawnette Sulker as the Queen of the Night; basso profundo John Ames as Sarastro; and baritenor Donn Bradley as the comic lead, Papageno, returning to his native Modesto.
Regional cast members include Holly Banfield as Papagena; Sarah Benzinger, Anakira Gabriella-Graça and Linda Baird as the Three Ladies; Emmanuel Mercado and J.T. Williams as the Armored Priests; Shawn Soelberg and Brad Reed as the Speaker Priests; and Modesto High School Choir Director Adam Serpa as the evil Monostotos.
The roles of the mysterious spirits will be played by young artists from Opera Modesto’s Summer Opera Institute 2021 program: Grace Benham, Isabella Diep, Zoey Freitas Scott, Philomena Iorns, Amanda Remy and Erica Sosa.
“The Magic Flute” will be directed by Opera Modesto’s Annalisa Winberg and conducted by Ryan Murray, with the chorus directed by Liisa Dávila.
It will be sung in German with English dialogue and English supertitles.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17. There will be an “Opera Insights Pre-Show Talk” at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15 and at 1 p.m. Oct. 17. Tickets are $39 to $79, available at www.galloarts.org.
“I cannot tell you how excited I am to finally bring this show to the stage, after the long pandemic-imposed hiatus,” Winberg said in a release. “We can’t wait to share live opera with our audiences again!”
