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Opera Per Tutti: I Pagliacci @ Solon Center for the Arts 5/15 Ruggiero Leoncavallo wrote both music and libretto for his most famous work I Pagliacci or The Clowns, in the new style of opera known as verismo or realism. The trend was away from opera based on ancient kings and queens, and toward more ordinary everyday kind of people.

Leoncavallo succeeded far more than he knew, as many of today’s soap operas utilize the same concept. It certainly didn’t hurt his opera any that he composed one of the most famous tenor arias in the entire operatic repertoire for it: Vesti la giubba.

The success or failure of the opera weighs heavily on the shoulders of the tenor entrusted with this aria, and Opera Per Tutti snagged an absolute champion in Timothy M. R. Culver. He starred as Canio, the head of the touring players, as well as Pagliacci in the play-within-a-play. As Mr. Culver has matured into the right age for the role, so has his voice taken on additional heft and beauty. This was a match made in operatic heaven, to be sure! He sang with confidence and authority and gorgeous ringing tones, especially the highest notes of the piece.

As his wife, Nedda (Columbine in the play) Andrea Anelli displayed once again why she is ideally suited for this sort of role. In addition to superb acting skills, her voice has both beauty and high notes (plus, of course, the low ones) and she is able to embrace comedy and drama, switching with ease from one scenario to the next. Ms. Anelli is also the founding General Director of Opera Per Tutti, whose purpose in life is to provide professional operatic opportunities to artists living in Northeast Ohio.

Baritone Scott Skiba did double duty, as stage director and the villain Tonio. His alter ego was Taddeo who brought about the unhappy ending due to his unrequited love for Nedda. Mr. Skiba found and brought out a variety of subtle nuances in his staging of the opera on the somewhat smallish stage at Solon Center for the Arts. There was a good-sized orchestra behind the set, and a large chorus in front of it, plus the principals, and he utilized every inch of space in magnificent fashion.

In the two smaller roles were Gene Stenger as Beppe (and Harlequin) and James Love as Silvio, a villager. Mr. Stenger’s role was the more congenial of the two, and he exhibited acting and singing skills (he’s also a tenor) which should carry him far in his career. Mr. Love, on the other hand, is ideally suited for the role of romantic lover, being tall, dark and handsome, and possessed of a fine baritone voice.

The fourteen voice chorus plus seven youngsters in the children’s chorus and the 24 piece orchestra were ably conducted by Kerry Glann. The chorus was extraordinarly fine throughout, whether acting the villagers or singing.

The sets and costumes as designed by Sarah Cantrell were bright and colorful and very versatile. Lighting was by Kristina J. Ferrencie, and Matty Sayre was stage manager.

Opera Per Tutti will announce the 2009-2010 season in the next month or so. For details, call 440-285-1974, or visit the website: http://www.OperaPerTutti.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

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