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Detroit There certainly has been
Cyrano Fever" going on in the operatic world ever since the announcement
that David DiChiera, General Director of Michigan Opera Theatre, had written
an opera based on the French play Cyrano de Bergerac, which would be
performed at his own theatre from October 13 - 28, 2007. Everyone was
wondering what this opera would be like.
Cyrano" by David DiChiera was a triumph, as was attested to by the long and
enthusiastic standing ovation it was given at the conclusion of the opera.
Not that it didn't have its kinks. The first act, in particular, needs some
tightening. The opera, at approximately three and a half hours including two
intermissions, is definitely on the long side. But, in spite of this, the
work has enough genius and inspiration to merit being called, and becoming,
the operatic Cyrano" of choice. The other Cyrano," by Franco Alfano
(composer of the last segment of Puccini's Turandot"), though a worthy
effort, lacks the sweeping harmonic and melodic structure and the panache of
DiChiera's.
Largely without stand-alone arias, in a subtle, almost hypnotic way, this
work gradually draws the audience into a deep emotional involvement in the
story. This effect owes much to the skill of orchestrator and masterful
conductor, Mark D. Flint, who, in our opinion, merits listing as
co-composer. The librettist, Bernard Uzan, who manages to keep the flavor of
Cyrano's original eloquence and beauty in Rostand's play, also deserves high
praise.
As
we know, Cyrano is a man with an uncommonly large nose, which he believes
makes him ugly and unappealing to all women, especially to Roxane, the woman
he secretly adores. When she confesses to him that she is in love with the
very good-looking Christian, a member of his regiment, he is crushed but
pledges to befriend and protect him. Later, Christian, who loves Roxane but
is inept at expressing his love, tells Cyrano he does not have the words he
needs to woo her. In this very moving scene, Cyrano offers to be the writer
of his letters: I shall be your soul, I shall walk in the shadow by your
side," he sings.
And so he does, and the more he writes, the more in love Roxane becomes -
with Christian. So much so, that she arranges to marry him after the great
balcony" scene of the second act in which Cyrano gives the words to
Christian which drive her to distraction. The quintet in this scene is one
of the more memorable musical experiences of the opera. DeGuiche, a powerful
count, who would have preferred Roxane marry someone else of his choice,
sends Christian and Cyrano with their regiment to battle.
At
the front Christian is dying, but Cyrano continues to write his letters
daily, risking his life to deliver them. Roxane finds her way to the
battlefield where Christian dies in her arms.
The last scene, which takes place 14 years later, finds Roxane in a convent,
ever nourishing her love for Christian, and being visited by Cyrano
regularly. When she produces the last letter written by Christian, which she
gives to Cyrano, who reads it aloud through the darkening shadows, she
realizes that he is the writer who has poured his soul into the
correspondence, which inflamed her love. She notices blood coming from his
head. Cyrano tells her that an assassin has mortally wounded him. As he
dies, Roxane cries out that she has loved only one soul and lost it twice."
The beautiful Roxane is exquisitely sung by Leah Partridge. Marian Pop is a
top-notch Cyrano; Christian (Jose Luis Sola), De Guiche (Peter Volpe), and
Roxane's nurse (Gloria Partridge) are especially effective in their roles.
Cyrano" seems destined to become a favorite in opera theatres worldwide.
It's a beautiful story with wit and wisdom, and has music that singers will
enjoy singing, and audiences will like to hear sung again and again. This is
a world premiere that will resound throughout the world.
Future performances are Friday, October 26 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 28
at 2:30 pm.
MOT's next opera production is Mozart's delightful Marriage of Figaro"
(November 10-18, 2007).
Dina Soresi Winter |
