FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
Debut Opera's artistic director knows that staging an opera requires a certain amount of cold, hard cash."There's a minimum below which you can't go because you can't get all the elements together," says Philip May, who has recently moved to Calgary after retiring from the University of Regina's music department. He has seen directors try to get by with less than the mimimum and it's not a pretty sight.
"It always looks undercooked," he says. "The refinements are left undone and I'm never comfortable with that kind of thing."
But even so, the former teacher says that elaborate sets and costumes are not his primary focus.
"I'm much more interested in doing opera productions from the point of view of training and developing people," he explains. "I'm particularly interested in the emerging singer. What they need is to be put into the context where there's a professional atmosphere.... That does not necessarily mean that it's got to be large and lavish."
Debut Opera's production of The Marriage of Figaro opening next week will feature the talents of several such emerging talents. Veterans like baritone Richard Heyman working under the direction of May and his wife Eleanor (musical collaborators for over 30 years), will share the stage with Chris Tesarski and Patrice Jegou who, while experienced vocalists, have limited experience singing lead operatic roles. The chance to perform in this show is vital if either aspires to work with major regional opera companies.
"They cannot proceed until they get an opportunity to work on a larger repertoire," May says. "David Speers at Calgary Opera cannot risk hiring an untried singer for his mainstage season - that would be suicide for him."
The question, of course, is where are young singers to amass the experience they need? May says that opportunities in Canada are few and far between. Groups like Debut Opera - a kind of farm team for operatic talent - are their only hope.
"The number of opportunities that exist where they can develop and do a major part are miniscule," he says. "It's a desperate situation for the young singer. I think there should be groups like ours in every major city in the country."
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