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Crowds will soon converge for the start of the spring
opera and baseball seasons, and MOT officials are
doing their best to prevent chaos.

says Dr. David
DiChiera, MOT's gen-
eral director. "Der
Rosenkavalier and Peter
Grimes have never
before been seen on our
stage, and Tosca contains
all of the passion and
spectacle that make
opera grand."

Der Rosenkavalier

Photo by Robert Kusel, courtesy of Lyric Opera of Chicago

puting to 15,000-20,000 vehicles for a
sold-out game.
But even if they can find a spot in
the vicinity, dressed-up opera goers
really don't want to walk 10 minutes
from a distant parking lot and usually
don't like to use underground garages
either.
That's why MOT officials have
mailed notices to past patrons telling
them that parking has been reserved
for them in two nearby garages with
about 2,000 spaces; drivers will have
to show their tickets.
It's also worth noting that MOT
charges a rational $8 for parking at its
own 200-space lot right next to the
Opera House (available only to donors
on opening nights). Reports are circu-
lating that Comerica Park-area lots are
banding together to charge a unified
fee, maybe as much as $15 per vehicle.
Another cause for concern is
whether the noise from the traditional
fireworks after Friday baseball night
games will drown out the singing on

to

born soprano Helen
Donath in the role
of Marschallin; her
husband, Maestro
Klaus Donath, con-
ducting the orches-
tra; and their son,
Alexander, who cur-
rently stages opera
and theater in
Europe, making his
North American
debut as director.
Donath, an
MOT favorite, por-
trayed Mimi in La
Boheme and the
countess in The

("The Knight of the
Rose"), sung in German
with English subtitles,
was composed in 1909
and is set in Maria
Theresa's aristocratic
Vienna.
The opera proved to
Marriage of Figaro
be Strauss' and libret-
at the opera house.
French-Jewish stage director
tist Hugo von
In Tosca, nearly
Bernard Uzan helms Benjamin
Hofmannsthal's great- Britten's "Peter Grimes."
everyone dies at the
est popular success.
prima donna's
They wrote it as a tribute to Mozart
hand: her boyfriend, Cavaradossi;
and filled it with waltzes and lus-
Police Chief Scarpia (probably opera's
stage — which is just a Roman candle
cious melodies. Its timeless themes
nastiest villain); and, of course, Floria
shot away from the field.
are melancholy at growing old, love
Tosca herself.
Nevertheless, MOT is persevering.
at first sight and nostalgia for a van-
"Opera lovers will get it all in this
The opera season, sponsored by
ishing era.
one," says DiChiera. "Passion, seduc-
General Motors, follows Der
The story revolves around the 32-
tion, rape, jealousy, betrayal, torture,
Rosenkavalier with Tosca
year-old Princess Marschallin;
imprisonment, murder and suicide."
(May 6-14), a Puccini
her 17-year-old lover,
Puccini worked on Tosca, sung in
favorite marking the
Count Octavian; the
Italian with English subtitles, on and
100th anniver-
princess' cousin,
off for 10 years. He collaborated with
sary of its 1900
Baron Ochs auf
several librettists and even made a spe-
Rome pre-
Lerchenau; and cial trip to Rome to get inspiration
miere, and
ox seats for the final dress rehearsal - ,
Sophie von
from its church bells. "He created not
Peter
Der 12osenkavalter at Orchestra Hall are bein
Faninal, the
only beautiful music for the singers
Grimes
offered by the Detroit chapter of Brande is
girl Ochs
but accomplished finely calculated
(June 3-
University National Women's Committee fo
dramatic effects heard throughout the
wants to
11), a
Tuesday evening, April 11.
wed.
orchestra even when there are no voic-
powerful.
Bus transportation from the Congregation
Marschallin
es," says DiChiera.
20th-cen-
Shaarey Zedek parking lot is included in the $50
is so
French soprano Sylvie Valayre (May
tury
ticket. Proceeds will be used for the technology
6, 10 and 13) and American mezzo-
obsessed
British
fund of the Brandeis libraries.
soprano-turned-soprano Amy Johnson
with growing
drama by
For tickets or further information, call
old that she
(May 7, 12 and 14) make their MOT
Benjamin
Sonya Goldberg, (248) 851-6495,
often gets up at
debuts as they take turns leaping off of
Britten.
or Harriet Shogan, (248) 788-
the castle. Sicilian-born Marcello
night and stops
"This will be
9613, by April 9.
the clock.
Giordani (May 6, 10 and 13) and
a very challenging
The cast is a real
Hawaiian heldentenor (extra strong
and exciting season,
voice) Ian DeNolfo (May 7, 12 and
family affair, with Texas-

13

4/7

2000

93

