| Book Review by Jackie Allen "Opera is a feast for the eyes, the ears, the
heart, and ML Hart's fabulous book provides the chef's eye view of preparing the feast.
A deft mixture of photographs and text
brings you into the kitchen. You see the vibrant painting on the Aida set, hear
Karen Keltner stir the orchestra into a savory melange of sound with a soupçon of middle
eastern spice for The Italian Girl in Algiers, and fall in love with Cinderella
and her prince.
During ML Hart's two years backstage with
the San Diego Opera, she chronicled the "intense, demanding, often exhausting"
world premier of The Conquistador. Production began about three years before
opening night, but many questions didn't come up until the rehearsals began in February,
1997. Pictures of tenor Jerry Hadley, mezzo-soprano Adria Firestone and director Sharon
Ott "discussing" the production reveal the fiery devotion to detail that
resulted in an evening of history come alive to music that stirred the soul.
Opera requires the skills of many, both
behind the scenes and on stage. All these people come alive in the pages of Hart's book.
For example: "Dorothy Randall wears many hats for San Diego Opera. at various times
she is the rehearsal pianist, vocal coach, chorus master or banda leader offstage. Banda
refers to any kind of music that is made somewhere other than the orchestra pit."
Stage management includes a multitude of
tasks: set, costumes, makeup, props, supertitles, wigs, piano tuning. A photo that gives a
taste of the book shows a whole drawer of eyelashes.
Live performances excite us, invite us to
share the moment, and opera offers something not often available in today's electronic
world. "The principal singers are concerned with dialogue, blocking, diction,
characterization, choreography, and swordplay. They also engage in the physical effort of
singing. It's obvious to everyone in the opera world that the voices are not amplified in
any way. No microphones, no prerecorded high notes -- and an audience of 3,000."
Who ties all this together? "Ian
Campbell, General Director of San Diego Opera since 1983, sits at the top. His energy,
experience, and vision have led the Company into financial stability while returning a
creative sensibility to the repertoire."
Wrapping up the story is a chapter on the
education of new young audiences and a history of the San Diego Opera.
Like a glorious multi-tiered wedding
cake, the confection of opera needs underpinnings, rich layers, and romantic frosting.
Martha Hart has shown us how The Art of Opera is created.
For more information visit Hart's website
http://mlhart.com or call San Diego Opera 619.232.7636."
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All material © Jackie Allen and Marquee
1998.
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