Peter Mark looks back on 34 years of cultural contributions to the commonwealth as he prepares to mount the podium at George Mason University and conduct Verdi’s “Il Trovatore,” the company’s 100th production.
“I chose this opera to open the season because I think it’s one of the grandest there is,” he says. “It got a bad rap when the Marx Brothers made fun of it in one of their famous movies and that stuck with a lot of people. Certainly it has many dramatic moments that were easy for them to joke about.
“Musically, it’s superb. It represents Verdi’s middle period when he first came into his own. This music transports opera to an emotional level with soaring melodies and brilliant orchestration. To present it properly, we’ve chosen four major artists whose voices send chills down the spine.
“The beautiful Finnish-Canadian soprano Eilana Lappalanien will sing Leonora. She has a gorgeous voice and remarkable stage presence. She’s joined by tenor Gustavo Lopez-Manzitti as Manrico. He comes from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is a knockout, a wonderful find. Baritone Nmon Ford, who won two Grammy Awards, sings the role of Count di Luna, and mezzo-soprano Jeniece Golbourne as Azucena is making her debut with us. I chose them all for their magnificent voices and remarkable good looks to help project the characters.”
The stars are ably supported by the Virginia Symphony in the pit and a top-drawer chorus regarded as the most dedicated in the business, thanks to chorus master Joseph Walsh. Set designer Michael Ganio and lighting specialist Richard Winkler serve up the optimum atmosphere, while theatrical director Lillian Groag has reworked the plot and swept away the cobwebs to fashion a show of dramatic splendor.
Set in the Middle Ages, the sumptuous production embraces every element peculiar to the romantic tale of a troubadour in love with a noblewoman, from bedazzling costumes to a daring sword fight. Those not familiar with Italian may follow the translation on projected supertitles.
“When you look at this story about the son of a Gypsy mother burned at the stake for her beliefs, you see elements of today’s news,” Mark says. “It’s very modern in the sense that it deals with various levels of society and shows the disdain those in power have for the have-nots. The characters act out their emotions just as people would today. It all comes to life the moment you hear the opening tympani and the menacing motif.”
From the beginning of his tenure in 1975, Mark’s objective has been to spread the joy of opera throughout Virginia. He has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. Touring from the Tidewater to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the VO’s Education and Outreach program touches every Virginia school system and community group.
“We’ve been working hard all these years to become a beacon of excellence in Virginia and to entertain our audiences with the finest artists,” Mark says. “Our success is due to the interaction of everyone on the staff and the impact they enable us to make on many lives.”
If you go
Virginia Opera presents Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday
Venue: George Mason University Center for the Arts, Fairfax
Tickets: $45 to $86; 888-945-2468; www.tickets.com
