MAY 16 • 2024 | 47

know that The Cunning Little
Vixen is a show for everybody,
”
Rosen said. “It’s about animals,
but it’s not really a kids’ show.
It’s a show that’s acceptable for
kids, but it’s really deep and
interesting for any adults that
are going to come to see it.
“It’s not very long as far as
opera goes, but it has so much
beautiful musical information
and dramatic depth in a seem-
ingly simple story. The music
sounds like a blend between
avant-garde European classical
music of the era with some
moments that sound straight
out of a Hollywood film.
”
Rosen has a lot to say about
the staging, which prevents
cast members with dual roles
to not feel stressed about cos-
tume changes.
“The animals exist in
this half projection and half
real physical world,
” Rosen
explained. “There’s this beauti-
ful backdrop onto which there
are hand-drawn animations,
and our heads pop out of little
holes in the backdrop.
“It allows us to move around
and be quite animated with the
help of the projections. That
way, when we have to make a
quick costume change, maybe
we already have our human
clothes on and our heads come
out with a little hat on to signi-
fy which characters we are.
”
The production is
enhanced with direction by
Yuval Sharon, the Gary L.
Wasserman artistic director of
the company, and is conducted
by Roberto Kalb, company
music director.
With all his work engage-
ments, Rosen still makes time
for personal commitments. He
attends synagogues in towns
where he is visiting, and he has
flown back and forth between
France and San Francisco to
attend a friend’s wedding held
between production rehearsal
times.

Also, he enjoys cooking and
makes allotments for that.
“Quite early in my life, I
started piano lessons, and
through various musical men-
tors — my piano teacher and
public school music teachers
— I made my way to a chil-
dren’s chorus, which happens
to be the auxiliary chorus for
the LA Opera.
“Through that nonprofit
organization, I found myself
singing 12 different operas
with LA Opera and other
opera companies in the area.
I sang quite a bit of opera as
a young kid. When my voice
changed, I went back to play-
ing piano. My voice developed
a little bit more, and I realized I
would like to keep singing.
“I started taking some les-
sons again and found my way
to the conservatory, where I
studied both piano and sing-
ing. Eventually, I affirmed my
path as a singer, and here I
am.
”

Details
The Cunning Little Vixen
will be performed at 7:30
p.m. Friday, May 17; and
2:30 p.m. Sunday, May
19, in the Detroit Opera
House, 1526 Broadway.
Opera talks are one hour
before show times. Ticket
prices begin at $15. (313)
237-7464. detroitopera.
org.

Alex
Rosen

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