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A little bit of everything

Posted by DCA Theater on July 13, 2009 in Other, Summer Opera

Submitted by Stephen Raskauskas, Production Dramaturge

Joanie Schultz has almost finished staging Acis and Galatea.  The opera contains a little bit of everything, from love songs to battle cries, and course, what opera would be complete without a dramatic death scene? In the pictures below; Wilbur Pauley (Polyphemus) imprisons Amy Conn (Galatea); John Zuckerman (Acis) prepares for battle as Rob Boldin (Damon) tries to convince him to tame his passions; John dies while Amy mourns.

All of the arias in Acis and Galatea are da capo (italian for, from the head); once a singer has sung the first two sections of the aria, called the A and B sections, he or she returns to the beginning (the head) to repeat the A section.  The repeats allow singers to showcase their virtuosity, adding embellishments and occasional cadenzas.  Because the raison d’ etre of da capo arias is virtuosic display, often staging these pieces can be a challenge.  However, Joanie has crafted some clever staging for these arias, after spending much time exploring these pieces with each of the singers.  In the picture below; Joanie discusses da capo form with tenors John and Rob.