ARTS The MichiganDaily Thursday, November 17, 1988 Page 7 Puccini Pairing 'You say opera and people just go blech,' says Jay Lesinger. Hopefully, the double shot of opera he's directing this weekend The cast of Gianni Schicchi shares laughs and librettos in the University's Opera Theatre production. Puccini's comedy shares the spotlight with his tragedy, Suor Angelica. BY MARY BETH BARBER AND LEAH LAGIOS wo popular complaints about ope- ra are that it's difficult to understand and that it's boring. But unless the audience has trouble with English, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi, presented this weekend by the University's School of Music Opera, promise to be neither. Gianni Schicchi will be sung in English, while Suor Angelica will lke sung in the original Italian. But * pr those music lovers who have diff- i ulty understanding Italian, this Opera Theater Production will be the first in University history to use Supertitles, English translations of the text projected on a screen above the stage. So much for being difficult to understand. And, far from being boring, these one-act operas by Gia- como Puccini (Madame Butterfly, Le Boheme) will transport you into an evening full of comedy, tragedy, talent, and beautiful music. You may find yourself in the center of a convent where a woman has been banished by her family in Suo r Angelica. Or you may be moved to will change a few mury Florence in the mid-1400's where a group of greedy relatives comically attempt to alter a dead man's will to their advantage in Gianni Schicchi. What makes these two operas so special is the sharp contrast in Puccini's orchestration: the blending, luscious melodies of Suor Angelica, captured in the chorus of women's voices and Sister Angelica herself, and the light, comic, musical changes in Gianni Schicchi. The drama of Suor Angelica and the humor of Gianni Schicchi will come alive under the direction of Jay Lesenger, who has worked on more than two dozen productions with the Laurett Schicchi (Amy Thomas) pleads with her father - and: the man behind the opera, Gianni Schicchi (Scott Jensen). New York City Opera. Lesenger notes that Suor Angelica "is a very special, lush, and emotionally potent opera." As for Gianni Schicchi, he hails it as "enormously popular and entertaining, one of the cleverest of comic operas." Graduate and undergraduate Uni- versity voice students will sing the operas and Gustav Meier, musical director, will conduct the Unversity Symphony Orchestra. Other talent behind the scenes include recent additions to the University's faculty Graduate Design Program. Richard Nelson, 1984 Tony award winner, is the light designer, and Laura Crow, who just won a Tony last year, is the costume designer. "Our lights and sets match what you'll see in Opera Houses around the country," says Lesenger. While there are some opera fans in town, University students don't usu- ally go to the performances. "Most people would be pleasantly sur- prised," says Lesenger. "Our problem is trying to get people in the door." "It's a good weekend date," says Lesenger. "If people will go and see a movie for a tear-jerker, why not live theater?" Saying that opera is confusing isn't an excuse for this performance, the reasoning behind translations and Supertitles. "You say opera and people just go blech," adds Lesenger. "Honestly, there is no reason why} they should." GIANNI SCHICCHI and SUOR ANGELICA will be at the Power Center on Nov. 17, 18, and 19 at 8 p.m. with a Sunday matinee on Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the League Ticket Office for $10 and $7 ($5 with student I.D.) The Power Center Box Office will be open one hour prior to each performance. 4 1 Writer melds mastery BY MARK SWARTZ "A new seriousness and skill will be required from Black fiction writers of the future," challenges novelist, journalist, cartoonist, and teacher Charles Johnson in his most recent work Being and Race. Johnson, a powerful and thoughtful writer of fiction himself, faces up to this self- issued challenge in earnestness. Johnson aspires to create works of fiction that "interface" fiction and philosophy. "The social protest fic- tion of Toni Morrison andAlice Walker has reached an artistic mas- "I have to know the story before I write it," Johnson says. "When I get an idea, a voice, a story, and most importantly a question I want to explain, then I can write. I write every day until it's done." tery," he explains, "but there is no tradition of philosophical novel." With a sophisticated storytelling style that draws on old myths and forges new ones, Johnson has created a stunning and varied body of work. Like Walker and Morrison, he has garnered voluirnes of acclaim from both the Black community and the literary world. His first novel, Faith and the Good Thing, follows Faith Cross on a wondrous odyssey where she encounters mystically-named characters like the Swamp Woman and Big Todd. The late John Gardner, See~ Myth, Page 8 Show spotlights local bands BY NABEEL ZUBERI N ew Talent Night, a special promotion by UAC/Soundstage, aims to give struggling local groups a much-needed boost. Featured tonight at the U-Club are three very diverse bands: Rain, Under the Influence, and Neovogue. The breadth of music showcased should help conffirm that there is healthy life in the local music scene. Rain have been playing together for about two years, and have performed regularly in local clubs. Influenced by Led Zeppelin, Dylan, Hendrix, Iron Maiden and Jethro Tull(!), they aim to forge a new rock form which they call "Flower Metal." The band members are very serious about their music and want to make a career in the business when they've finished school - and since the average age of the band is about 18, they'll have plenty of time to develop their sound. Next summer, the band hopes to release an album of original material on Industry Records, a Kalamazoo label. The second band on the bill is Under the Influence. Judging by their name, it's not surprising that they play mainly at fraternity parties. The band, which has been together for a year and a half, consists of four engineering students here at the University. They are influenced by REM, U2, Talking Heads, and more worryingly, Genesis. Most of their set consists of covers, though they are working on more and more original material. Neovogue is a danceband of six avid Prince fans, which can't be bad. They write all their own songs, which is a hopeful sign for so young a group. One of them attends E.M.U. and the rest are in high school. They have been playing the local clubs for about 18 months and are releasing a single, "Nightmare," on their own label. An enterprising bunch of musicians, they plan to move to Las Vegas and tout their single around in order to fix up a record company deal. Every great band started somewhere, playing mainly cover versions to an indifferent audience, and finding it tough to get recognition and outlets for its music to be heard. So lend your support and response to the efforts of these young contenders. After all, Question Mark & the Mysterians, Iggy, and the MC5 were thrashing. about for some time in these parts before they changed somebody's world, n'est-ce pas? Now there must be legions of people who lie that they saw them live, before they were famous. So who knows where Rain, Under The Influence or Neovogue may go? Check 'em out. NEW TALENT NIGHT will br presented at the U-Club tonight at 9 p m. J Cornerstone i CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP ARTQIRVED CLASS RINGS CCRB All-Nighter Saturday, November 9 10:30 pm - 12:30 am Central Campus Recreation Building This is it sports fans! An evening to let loose, get exercise, and meet lots of great peopio! $2.00 Phone 769-0500 for reservations Hillel does not necessarily endorse the Daily's opinions or agree with its editorial policies. (an interdenominational campus fellowship) Students Dedicated to Knowing and Communicating Jesus Christ Weekly Meetings: Thursdays: 7:00 pm 219 Angell Hall Thurs. & Fri. Nov. 17,18 10:30 - 3:00p.m. North Campus Commons Bookstore John Neif - 971-9150(O), 747-8831(H) r Date 2} 1988 Arfaned Cas~s Ringq Time slace $25.00 Deposit Required r Thurs.- Sun. Nov. 17- 20 University of Michigan SCHOOL OF MUSIC "Gianni Schicchi" and "Sour Angelica," by Puccini Presented by Opera Theater Jay Lesenger, director, Gustav Meier, conduc.tor Tickets $7 & $10, call 764-0450 Power Center, 8:00 p.m. (Th-Sat), 2:00 p.m. (Sun) "The Mighty Gents," by Richard Wesley Presented by University Players Charles Jackson, director Tickets $7, call 764-0450 Trueblood Theatre, 8:00 p.m. (Th-Sat), 2:00 p.m. (Sun) AnnArbor Dance Works Fall Program Tickets $7, call 763-5460 McIntosh Theatre, 8:00 p.m. (Th-Sat), 2:00 p.m. (Sun) "The Exception and the Rule," by Bertolt Brecht Presented by Basement Arts Arena Stage, Frieze Building 5:00 p.m. FREE Guest Viola Recital by Jeffrey Irvine, Oberlin Thurs.- Fri. Nov. 17- 18 Fri.