Paradigm Concerts will present an abridged concert version of Mozart's comic masterpiece "The Marriage of Figaro" next weekend in honor of the composer's 250th birthday anniversary.
Series founder and director Joel Rosenberg said his goal is to present shortened versions of well-known operas. "This is a continuation of what I started two years ago with 'Don Giovanni.' I want to continue this tradition of bringing highlights of great operas on the series."
Abridging a 3 1/2-hour opera down to little more than an hour is no easy task, Rosenberg admitted. "We're doing the most famous arias and ensembles."
Even so, he said that it was challenging finding the right pieces to give a sense of continuity to the performance. "Of course, if you had a choice, you wouldn't cut anything — the music is so magnificent. But it's beyond our scope to present 'The Marriage of Figaro' in its entirety."
But Rosenberg added that he feels he has selected the right pieces for the concert. "The ones we're doing are absolute jewels. They're the creme de la creme of the opera."
The vocal cast includes singers who have performed with Rosenberg in the past, either on the Paradigm series or with his Orchestra and Chorus of Sandy City. "They are all wonderful voices. I'm thrilled they can be with us."
The roles of Susanna and the Countess will be double-cast. Singing Susanna are sopranos Rhea Miller and Jennifer Whiteleff. The role of the Countess will be sung by sopranos Jill Dewsnup and Alisa Thomason. Figaro will be sung by baritone Stefan Gordon, and the Count will be sung by baritone Matthew Jensen. Mezzo-soprano Stina Jensen will sing the role of Cherubino.
Accompanying the singers will be the Paradigm Chamber Orchestra, which, for these performances, will be made up of musicians from the Orchestra of Sandy City and other local ensembles.
If you go . . .
What: "The Marriage of Figaro," Paradigm Concerts
Where: Wasatch Presbyterian Church, 1626 S. 1700 East
When: Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.
How much: $12 general admission, $7 senior citizens/students
E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com