A night at the opera

Dalhousie music students sing and perform in two operas, The Face on the Barroom Floor and Gianni Schicchi. (Nick Pearce Photo)

Whoever said opera is a yawn has got it all wrong.

Students of the Dalhousie music department will be performing two operas this week, Henry Mollicone’s The Face on the Barroom Floor and Giacomo Puccini’s  Gianni Schicchi, both extremely captivating.

Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, a classic comedic opera—wait, comedic opera? That’s right, Gianna Schicchi is a show that will have you laughing. It's about a greedy family conspiring to change the family will. Schicchi, being a crafty peasant, agrees to help, but not without teaching the family a valuable lesson. He’s also in charge of helping a young couple pursue their romance even though their love isn't sanctioned by the family.

“It’s really fun, and it’s in English so you can understand what’s going and get a taste of what opera singing is all about, because you don’t really get that opportunity very often,” says Natacha Fam, fourth-year vocal student who plays Schicchi’s daughter, Lauretta.

Mollicone’s The Face on the Barroom Floor takes a more serious note as a tragedy which involves a couple visiting a bar in Central City, Colorado where the bartender ends up telling them a story that took place in the same bar 100 years ago. Interestingly enough, what happened 100 years ago ends up happening again by the end of the show.

First-year vocal student Iain MacNeil describes it as a very intense 25 minutes of power.

“There are two fight scenes, two deaths; the plot occurs twice in three scenes, and there’s no stopping,” says Mr. MacNeil.

“It used to be mainly fourth years got most the roles, now we do it so that everyone auditions, and if they are appropriate for a role, whether they are in first year or fourth, and if they appear to be vocally ready, then they’re cast,” says Marcia Swanston, producer and voice coach of both shows.

Take first-year student, Iain MacNeil who landed a one of the three roles in The Face on the Barroom Floor. He's not only a first year in the music department, it’s also his first time singing opera.

“I’m certainly grateful to be in it, being in first year, that’s huge for me,” he says.

With a background in musical theatre, a bit of classical music, and in a country band back home in Brockville, Ontario, MacNeil admits opera is a huge challenge.

“Not only is there more singing, there’s no microphone like there is in musical theatre,” explains Mr. MacNeil. “You have to sing with all of your guts to get that sound that’s going to fill the auditorium.”

From a sneak peek of his rehearsal, it’s fair to say he’s developed this capacity quite well. The power of all the performers’ voices is literally breathtaking.

Also impressive is set, which is built in association with the students in the Department of Theatre who are stage managers and set designers.

It’s down to the wire and instead of nerves, it appears that these students have nothing but positive energy—“the funnest part is when it comes close to the show and you feel all the energy and the adrenaline with everyone the stage, everyone’s energy is so high,” says Natacha Fam.

Opening night is Thursday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m. in the Sir James Dunn Theatre. The operas are expected to draw a fairly full crowd of both students and members of Halifax community.

“For the past two or three years, the opera has been very successful,” says Ms. Swanston. And this year provides an extra opportunity to catch the show with the recent add-on of a Sunday matinee.

Tickets at $12 for students and seniors and $17.50 for adults are available at the Dalhousie Arts Centre.