Funny business at the opera

By Umaymah Rashid
The Collegian

Dragons, spirits, magical ladies and birdmen — all that and more is what you can expect to see during this weekend’s Opera Workshop at Fresno State.

The 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth is the inspiration behind the theme of this year’s workshop and will include scenes from some of the funniest moments in opera.

The opera, “Mozart: Magic, Manipulation and Mesmerism” will take place this Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Wahlberg Recital Hall. The workshop will include scenes from Mozart’s famous operas, “The Magic Flute” “Cosi fan Tutte” and “The Marriage of Figaro.”

Opera Workshop director and music professor Brigid de Jong said she chose those particular scenes because she thought that comedic scenes would be easier for the audience to understand and enjoy.

“People should be prepared to laugh cause it’s very funny,” de Jong said. “They should not be afraid to come and laugh at opera.”

The Opera Workshop was designed to give music students an opportunity to experience a real opera production and all that goes in to creating a successful show.

All scenes are fully staged and costumed and are meant to represent Mozart’s more lighthearted side.

“Most people have an idea that classical music is serious, but classical music kind of represents every human emotion, and of course all the fun and laughter in our lives is represented in classical music but particularly you can find it in opera,” de Jong said.

Sherah Moore, who plays one of the leading roles in “Cossi fan Tutte,” said she ultimately hopes this workshop brings more awareness to the art of opera.

“I think it’s important that people realize that it [opera] doesn’t have to be something scary, it doesn’t have to be terrible with hollering,” Moore said. “It can be funny and something that people can get in to.”

Sarah Josephian, who plays the leading role in “The Marriage of Figaro,” described her experience in the workshop as invaluable.

“It’s amazing, it’s really intense and you have to be ready to work, but you’ll never lose what you learned here,” Josephian said.

Josephian also took pride in the fact that she would be participating in the education of the general public about what opera represents.

“I’m helping people appreciate the kind of hard work that goes in to putting on this kind of show,” Josephian said. “Just to get it out there is a wonderful thing to be a part of.”

Ultimately the goal of the workshop is to provide music students with the opportunity to learn how an opera is produced as well as a way to celebrate the beautiful life of Mozart, de Jong said.

“I hope people will be challenged to try it out because I think they will be very surprised at how entertaining it is,” de Jong said.

The opera will run almost two hours including intermission and will cost $10 general admission, $8 for faculty/staff and $5 for seniors and students from any school with a valid identification card.

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