The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 16, 1999 - 9
'Dido and Aeneas' offers beautiful score
By Jeff Druchniak
Daily Arts Writer
Many people don't know very much about the
Michigan Opera Works. It's still a relatively new-
born group on the campus arts scene. But this
weekend, students will have the chance to get to
know the outfit a little better.
That's because the MOW will perform its spring
production, Henry Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas," at
the School of Music's McIntosh Theater tonight at
8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Michigan Opera Works is not formally affil-
iated with the School of Music, but it draws almost
exclusively on graduate and undergraduate Music
students who formed the group because they want-
ed another outlet for opera on campus. Previously,
the School of Music's two annual operas prover-
bially ran the only game in town.
Music sophomore David Gordon and Music doc-
toral student Tania Miller return to direct and con-
duct the opera, respectively, having done the same
with last fall's "The Rape of Lucretia." They are
assisted by choreographer Janna Van Hoven and
lighting designer Aaron Sporer.
The new production has no less of a literary pedi-
gree than the former, being drawn from the titular
episode of Virgil's epic poem "The Aeneid." But
"Dido and Aeneas," a one-act
opera from the baroque period,
r poses different challenges than
"The Rape of Lucretia," a full-
Dido and length 20th Century piece.'
Aeneas "It's a structurally simple
McIntosh Theater work - only 50 minutes long
Tonight at 8 - but deceptively simple,"
Sunday at 2 p.m. Gordon said. "It can be very
challenging to make the rela-
tionships between these char-
acters clear, even though they
seem that way on the surface."
Part of that challenge stems
from the unique demands of
Purcell's baroque music,
which the MOW will attempt to recapture with its
orchestral ensemble. In addition to the usual string
section, conductor Miller also has at her disposal a
harpsichord and a lute. Gordon adds that the style
of the music is particularly challenging to the musi-
cians, since it requires bursts of improvisation with-
in a tightly controlled framework.
Another challenge for the production has been
adapting to the demands of the performing space.
The nearly chamber-like qualities of the Mcintosh
Theatre have required discipline for the production
staff, who have designed a minimalist set for their
cast of 22 Music students.
In addition to chorus, supporting characters and a
pair of featured dancers, the production stars Eliza
Warner and Michael Gallant as the doomed lovers
Dido and Aeneas. The central crisis of the story is
Dido's torment and tragic reaction when the wan-
dering Aeneas, the lone survivor of the Trojan army,
is compelled to depart from her embrace.
It's a quality story, and it has shown considerable
endurance, but Gordon offers a reminder that it is
not the focus of the cast, crew, and orchestra's
labors.
So what is "Dido and Aeneas" really about?
Simple, says Gordon. "It's about beautiful music."
Courtesy of David Smith Photography
Jessica Murphy, Joe Harrell, Daniel Reichard, Barrett Foa and Brittany Brown gave
o of the best of all possible performances of "Candide" last night.
Can dide gives
- best possible tr
'U' students to bring e-music to League
stopper Tkaczyk
Arts Editor
In the best of all possible depart-
ments in one of the best of all possible
universities comes the best of all possi-
ble productions of the best of all possi-
ble shows. Last night's opening of
"Candide" by the University's depart-
ment of musical theater reaffirmed its
abilities and abundance of talent and
that, yes, Leonard Bernstein is still cer-
ly The Maestro.
Crowd-pleasing and intriguing are
merely two small descriptions for the
work of genius that is "Candide."
When presented well, it is stunning and
imaginative; it takes more than talent
and training to conduct a quality pro-
duction of the piece. As Dr. Pangloss
reveals towards the end of the show,
true happiness is achieved only when
honest work is committed by all - the
k
Candide
Power Center
April 15, 1999
only means by
which life may be
endured. The
departments'
hard efforts have
returned ten-fold
with an award-
deserving presen-
tation. Last
night's audience
experienced true
happiness, thanks
to the honest
work put forth by
an amazing
ensemble and
His performance of "It Must Be So"
brought tears to the eye and hope to
the heart.
Reichard was perfectly matched
with Jessica Murphy, who portrayed
the forsaken and brothel-stricken
Cunegonde. Murphy's soprano trick-
led with the golden sweetness of
dripping honey. Her performance of
"Glitter and Be Gay" nearly stopped
the show with the amazing vocal
acrobatics that she delivered simply
and with ease. Although her voice is
soft, she better characterized the role
than most coloratura can do in con-
cert performance. Capping off the
song with the highest of trilling
crests, the bejewelled Murphy capti-
vated suitors onstage and off.
As Dr. Pangloss, Barrett Foa was
wise and secure in the guise of an old
man. Foa possesses a strong ability
for character voice, and made
Pangloss believeablely real. From his
quick delivery of theory in "The Best
of All Possible Worlds" to the sage
offerings of the final scene, Foa bril-
liantly narrated the tale with a sense
of dignity and penache.
Courtney Balan stole the show as the
one-bunned Old Woman. With her per-
fect kvetching and messhugenah yenta-
isms, Balan diverted audience attention
everytime she spoke or made each
entrance. In the hilarious "I Am Easily
Assimilated" dance. number, Balan
combined comedic talent with youthful
dancing to redefine the term "experi-
enced." Her recounting of how the Old
Woman becomes half-assed is a plea-
sure in itself.
Set designer Vince Mountain per-
fectly advantaged stage space for the
cast of 42 with a skeletal blue con-
struction of stairs and scaffolding,
taking them from Westphalia to
Lisbon, Eldorado and Constantinople,
with a few stops in-between. George
Bacon's colorful costumes, particular-
ly those in the Auto-de-F6 and
Eldorado scenes, were touching to the
eye and complemented Bernstein's
breath-taking score.
Conductor Ben Whiteley and his
talented collection of musicians start-
ed the evening with an excellent ren-
dition of the popular "Candide" over-
ture and continued to shine through to
the very finale.
Director Brent Wagner minded
well when choosing the difficult
piece, and should be congratulated
on presenting the best of all possible
interpretations, showing that with a
bit of honest work, the toils of labor
can reap a fruitful harvest.
By Jason Birchmeier
Daily Arts Writer
Two University students are attempt-
ing to create an electronic dance music
community on campus. LSA Junior
Doris Payer and Engineering first-year
student Greg Damiani have formed a
student organization called
State:Awake. In addition, they have
teamed up with Michigan League pro-
gramming to host a free night of elec-
tronic music at the League
Underground.
An all-ages event advertised as "a
free alternative to binge drinking,"
State:Awake is hoping to bring togeth-
er several local DJs and the growing
population of party kids. Tonight they
attempt to begin establishing this
Friday night musical community char-
acterized by exciting music, crazy
dancing and socialization.
amaa
State: Awake
League
Underground
Tonight at 9
Payer and Damiani formed
State:Awake in an effort to expose the
campus to the virtues of electronic
music. The concept arose "so that the
party kids at this
school have a
group that works
for them to bring
DJs they want to
hear to a location
near them at a
lower cost to
them than a
Detroit party,"
Payer said.
"I think there is
a lot of interest in
electronic dance
music today,"
Damiani said.
"Ann Arbor is no-exception. The prob-
lem with this is that people turn on
MTV and think that Fatboy Slim is
what it's all about. There's so much
more to it. There's so much superior
music out there that people aren't
exposed to.'
State:Awake plans to showcase
many different local DJs of varying
styles at their event. Engineering first-
year student Cameron Sherding (DJ
Shogun) will spin what he describes as
"a variety of hardstep and aggressive
drum and bass tracks." University
graduate Tom Linder (T-Linder) will
spin techno while Derek Plaslaiko will
visit from Detroit with a special set of
disco.
As a headliner for their event,
State:Awake has brought in DJ Spree
from Minneapolis. Spree spins a style
of music seldom heard in the U.S.:
happy hardcore. Originally a British
hybrid of techno, happy hardcore -is
characterized by ultra-fast, jackham-
mering bass beats. Not relaxing by any
means, Spree's high-energy set will be
a suiting conclusion to the diverse
night of music.
"The DJs we decided to book offer
a wide range of electronic music,"
Damiani said. "There are many differ-
ent genres. In addition, they are peo-
ple we feel can provide the energy
and atmosphere that we're trying to
create."
"It's really difficult to get any kind of
name recognition - with everybody
being a DJ these days - so we want to
give some of the local kids a chance to
get their name out there and just play
out and have fun,' Payer said. "Plus,
there's plenty of talent to be found in
your local scene, and they don't ask for
a huge paycheck and superstar perks.'
See AWAKE, Page 10
Easy-access top pocket
I
Horseshoe-shaped
zipper for easy access
even stronger principal players.
Based upon the satire by Voltaire, the
musical follows the journey of
Candide, a bastard son who's fallen in
love with Cunegonde, daughter to the
Baron of the house in which he lives.
dging pirates and Bulgarians and
aniards of the Inquisition, Candide
traverses the world in search of
Cunegonde and the meaning of life.
Along the way, he meets and befriends
numerous individuals, including the
Old Woman, who offers him love
advice. His teacher, Dr. Pangloss (the
cunning Voltaire, in disguise), offers
him theories on the best of all possible
worlds, meaning that everything hap-
pens for the best of reasons. In the end,
ndide discovers that true happiness
n only be found in an honest day's
work. In short, its like "The Wizard of
Oz," but for the philosophically elite.
This production shined with an
amazing cast - all excellent in each
definition of the term.
As Candide, Daniel Reichard was
charming and rich, offering a youth-
ful, yet debonair quality to the part.
It'll carry you a lifetime
Summer in Europe.
Job interview in D.C.
Teach English on Tonga
Wedding in Chicago (not yours).
Go snoWboarding ini Utah.
5-year reunion in Ann Arbor.-..
Check out the Porter at:
BIVOUAC
336 S. State St " Ann Arbor, MI
, Internal pocketing
fif
Padded
suspension
system
Shoulder strap attachments
patagoni tel. (734) 761-6207
@Patagonia, Inc. 1999
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