Take a dozen seasoned singers who know their way around the opera block, stir briskly, and what do you get? "Opera in Your Lap," a delightful program by a bunch of unsinkable vocalists who put on a great hour and a half of variety entertainment.
These singers have all sung with Utah Opera, either on the current roster or at some time since its beginning 17 years ago, and the voices remain strong and true; some of them sound even better than ever, and the showmanship is unfailing.There's such a singing spirit that permeates the whole company, a "let's make a show" vivacity that's totally contagious, and the choice of songs is engaging. At the piano, the versatile and tireless Debbie Griffiths holds the show on course, slipping smoothly from one number to the next.
The show starts with four arias by as many first-rate sopranos. Kathryn Feigal sings "Io sono l'umile ancella" with great empathy, and Elizabeth Paniagua's "L'altra notte" from "Mefistofele" rises to a thrilling climax. Patricia Swanson has a stylish Slavic way with the Czardas from `Die Fledermaus," and Victoria Morris launches a brilliant, rich-hued "Ritorna Vincitor" from "Aida."
Then it's time for some variety numbers from "Broadway and such," with Mary Billeter-Young tossing off the light and lively "Love Is Where You Find It," and Don Becker in one of his comic specialties, "Jonah and the Whale." Terry Summerhays and Greg Griffiths join for some full-throated vocalism in the touching "Lily's Eyes" from "The Secret Garden," and all three men generously pour out the headlong excitement of "Abondanza" from "The Most Happy Fella."
Dave Arnold takes the cake (walk), doing the work of two in "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," complete with tap dancing. The work of two, because Bill Goeglein and his wife Michelle had an auto accident on the way to the theater and spent the evening in the emergency room. Report has it they will be back on stage Tuesday night.
Ensembles of the second half begin with a lively approximation of the Three Tenors, complete with Pavarotti hanky. Arnold, Griffiths and Roger Summerhays use the appropriate vocal overkill and one-upmanship on "Tonight," "All I Ask of You," and "Vesti la Giubba" - in alternation, then in ear-splitting unison.
The singers mix and match to top off with three wonderful ensembles, harmonically well balanced and vocally satisfying - the Quartet from "Rigoletto," the Quintet from "Carmen" (missing on opening night due to the accident) and the Sextet from "Lucia." Then it's all hands on deck for "The Rhythm of Life" by a bunch of vocalists who know and live it.
Intimate Opera is an idea whose time may have come. There are a great many fine singers around town for whom there is not enough call on the professional stages along the Wasatch Front, and who are underutilized even when there is call.
Intimate Opera is not out for any monetary rewards, which are slim indeed at best, but for the sheer joy of singing.
These people are opera animals, they live and breathe opera, and there's a lot more of them out there who should perhaps make themselves known and available. You can give a show every day, if you don't care about being paid, and it's a lot of fun.