Florentine Opera Marcus Center for the Performing Arts 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin Salome by Richard Strauss Florentine Opera presents Salome by Richard Strauss Friday, February 15, 2008 @ 7:30 PM Saturday, February 16, 2008 @ 7:30 PM Sunday, February 17, 2008 @ 2:30 PM review by Ed Vincent In the beginning, after the bow of the much admired Maestro Joseph Rescigno, you will note the grand Opera appeal of the dramatic setting depicting 30 AD in Judea, right before your eyes. The decor, the lights, the sets, and the costumes were all top notch and used beautifully. Katherine Pracht, in her debut role of the Page to Herodias, showed her talents in singing her mezzo-soprano voice in the role of a female alto. Ms. Pracht had a vast vocal range with great depth and resonance. Kelly Cae Hogan was the Salome that we saw on Saturday night, and this was her debut with the Florentine. I am sure that she shall be welcomed back in the future. She had a great soprano voice, nice dancing skills, and great theatrics. Instead of someone wishing her to break a leg, which is common theatrical lingo, that someone must have forgotten to give her the wish--because they killed her in the end instead of fixing her leg. Historically the alleged real Salome was not killed, but went on to have children and grandchildren of her own, but that was too happy for Oscar Wilde. The plot is controversial, and always has been. In today's world though the drama is not forbidden or censored, as it had in the past. We are all welcome to see and learn from this well known Hedonistic harlot of history, this megalamaniac, this 15 year old lush, this teenager to make today's kids look better. The Florentine has hit a home run with this production and mark your calenders for the next show, Bellini's Romeo and Juliet (I Capuleti e i Montecchi), April 25-27, 2008. Florentine Opera Marcus Center for the Performing Arts 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin by Richard Strauss Florentine Opera presents Salome by Richard Strauss Friday, February 15, 2008 @ 7:30 PM Saturday, February 16, 2008 @ 7:30 PM Sunday, February 17, 2008 @ 2:30 PM In this sensuous tale of scandal and intrigue, Salome lives a life of impulse and seduction. Singing of her desires, the twisted plot shifts once again with her stepfather’s longing. With a bribe, Salome participates in the lascivious Dance of the Seven Veils and seals the fate of John the Baptist. Brimming with death, cravings for attention and disgust, this opera – and the fate of Salome – is sure to fascinate and astonish. Conductor / Joseph Rescigno This season is Joseph Rescigno’s 26th season as the artistic advisor and principal conductor of the Florentine Opera Company. A frequent guest conductor, he has also recently conducted The Barber of Seville (New York City Opera), Little Women (Kentucky Opera), Hector Berlioz’ rarely performed oratorio, l’Enfance du Christ (Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra), and other audience favorites including Tristan und Isolde, Falstaff, Rigoletto, Otello, La Traviata, Madama Butterfly, Turandot and The Consul. Director / John Hoomes Mr. John Hoomes is currently serving as the General and Artistic Director of the Nashville Opera Association. He is also a seasoned free-lance Stage Director, directing over 75 productions of opera and musical theater with such companies as Kentucky Opera, Cincinnati Opera, The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, The Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera Memphis, Glimmerglass Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and Sarasota Opera. Hoomes returns to Milwaukee following his acclaimed direction of the Florentine’s 2006 production of Don Giovanni. Salome / Erika Sunnegårdh (Feb 15 & 17) Swedish-American soprano, Erika Sunnegårdh made her astonishing operatic debut in September of 2004, in the title role of Turandot at the Malmö Opera och Musikteater in southern Sweden. Ms. Sunnegårdh returns to the Florentine stage after her successful Milwaukee debut in 2005 as Leonore in Fidelio. She has recently performed at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera, and additional upcoming engagements include the world premiere of a commissioned work by Carl Unander-Scharin written especially for Ms. Sunnegårdh and the world-renowned percussion ensemble, Kroumata. Salome / Kelly Cae Hogan (Feb 16) Soprano Kelly Cae Hogan joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera this past season for Salome, Tosca, Die Walkure and La Bohème. Throughout her career, she has delighted audiences in a variety of noted roles, including Musetta in La Bohème, the title role of Salome and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. She is a winner of the American Opera Auditions, a New York winner of the MacAllister Awards, and sang a debut recital in Alice Tully Hall in New York as a winner of the Liederkranz competition. Other notable appearances include the following artists: John the Baptist / Mark S. Doss Herod Antipas / Joel Sorensen Herodias / Joyce Castle Narraboth / Eric Johnston Page of Herodias / Katherine Pracht The Florentine Opera's production of Salome is sponsored by Donald and Donna Baumgartner. http://www.florentineopera.org/ |
Directions from Chicago
290 (Eisenhower)
West to 294
North Toll road (Wisconsin)
94 North to Wisconsin
then 794
East to Downtown
Milwaukee. The
road forks
and you go to the left, North.
The road turns away
from the
lake and you are now of the
Expressway.
Proceed west
until Water Street. Turn right,
North, on Water Street
and go
several blocks north until
you reach the Marcus
Center for the Performing Arts
929 N. Water
Street. Parking
is across the street and
connected by an above
ground
crosswalk.
