Classic Lyric Arts: A New Generation in Opera
Classic Lyric Arts (CLA) presented a captivating recital, A New Generation in Opera: Masterworks Forward, at the Kaufman Music Center on March 6, 2024. The event wasn’t just a concert; it was a testament to CLA’s mission of nurturing young singers. CLA provides four programs: three summer courses in France, the Berkshires, and Italy, and a September-May Vocal Academy for outstanding alumni to start their professional careers. All performers in the recital were CLA alumni or current participants.
Wesley Diener, CLA’s Director of Operations, described the logistical feat of assembling artists at various career stages. Despite incredibly limited rehearsal time, the singers’ professionalism shone through. As the pianists’ overture from Le nozze di Figaro filled the hall, singers entered the stage, already embodying their operatic characters. The recital primarily featured semi-staged opera scenes. Each singer remained engaged throughout, creating a vibrant backdrop for their colleagues’ performances.
Several artists left a lasting impression. Sarah Fleiss, a soprano pursuing her Master’s at Curtis, portrayed a cunning Rosina in “Dunque io son” from Il barbiere di Siviglia. Her coloratura was effortless, and her controlled breathing supported the slower sections. Her convincing stage whisper revealed her schemes, shattering the damsel-in-distress stereotype. Sara Stevens similarly captivated with her head voice and playful phrasing in “Nous vivrons à Paris.”
The resident stage director, Daniel Isengart, prepared the singers with staging diagrams, notes, and costume requests well in advance. This meticulousness was evident in duets like “Tornami a dir che m’ami” and “Dôme épais,” where singers matched not just vocally, but in their blue attire and emotional delivery.
Simple props, like the flask held by Chinese tenor, Yulin Wang, portraying Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, enhanced the performances. Wang’s acting was both authentic and whimsical. He shared that Nemorino was his first operatic role, and that he drew inspiration from his colleague, Donghoon Kang, who recently joined the Merola Opera Program. Wang’s portrayal of yearning perfectly contrasted with Kang’s fraudulent Dr. Dulcamara. Kang’s seemingly endless breath allowed him to deliver a powerful crescendo, enjoying his time onstage.
Soprano Mikaela Bennett and baritone Jared Bybee offered a delightful surprise with “If I loved you” from Carousel. Both displayed exquisite phrasing and skillfully blended “legit” singing with mixing and belting. Bybee shared that singing in English, with integrated speaking lines, allowed him to delve deeper into the character. His diverse experience in film, television, and musicals, coupled with the training he received at CLA, empowers him to pursue a wide-ranging career, an inspiration for other vocalists.
Brazilian mezzo-soprano Monique Galvão displayed her range, shifting from Lakmé’s maid in the “Flower Duet” to the Duke’s lover in Rigoletto. Suchan Kim’s versatility was equally impressive, transforming from an innocent lover in La bohème to the conflicted father in Rigoletto and the complex Hoffmann.
The evening offered other unforgettable moments, including the choral piece Le parole dei mesi, a setting of Tonino Guerra’s poem by Raphael Fusco. As John Viscardi, CLA’s Executive Director and alumnus, pointed out, this beautiful, lyric, and decidedly contemporary masterpiece embodies a core tenet of CLA’s philosophy: the inherent musicality of language, a tool for artists to touch the depths of humanity. Crowd-favorite arias delivered by SeokJong Baek and Nadine Sierra were met with thunderous applause.
Behind the captivating performances was a relentless pursuit of artistic excellence. Tenor and CLA alumnus Samuel Ng spoke about the challenges of mastering the unique sounds and vowels of French for his role as Hoffmann. CLA France’s guidance, coupled with the character’s relatable struggles with mental health, allowed him to portray Hoffmann with a deep understanding.
Glenn Morton, a coach for 30 years and CLA’s director for 15, takes immense pride in nurturing young talent. He believes it’s part of the joy of artistic life, alongside letting go at the right moment as artists embark on new journeys. As CLA alumna Sofia Durante, a soprano, echoes, there’s nothing quite like singing beloved pieces with cherished colleagues. CLA fosters a sense of community, a family that nourishes each other’s artistic growth.
- written by Chloe Yutong Yang
Photography by Point of Order Productions.