Lovers of Italian tragic opera have a treat in store this weekend when Virginia Opera’s imaginative production of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “I Pagliacci,” the double bill popularly dubbed “Cav/Pag,” arrives in Fairfax. Vocally lush and dramatically grisly, the one-act operas will be sung in Italian with English supertitles.
British stage director Lorna Haywood transports the scene to a small Sicilian village during Mussolini’s reign to stress the importance of religious traditions and feast days to Italians even during perilous times.
“This time period works perfectly and was a lot of fun for us to get into,” soprano Cristina Nassif says. “It’s incredible how Lorna has meshed both operas so that you see some of the characters a year later. The townsfolk are excited to have a traveling circus troupe arrive with a splash of color at a difficult period in history.”
A Maryland native, Nassif is the daughter of Spanish mezzo-soprano Cristina Herrera de Nassif and pianist Dr. Thomas Nassif. She majored in vocal music at the University of Maryland, followed by an artist’s diploma from Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts. Among her many competition credits are the Gold Medallion in the Rosa Ponselle Opera Competition, First Prize in the Marjorie Lawrence International Vocal Competition and the Critic’s Choice Award in the International Vocal Competition of Bilbao, Spain.
Upon discovering Nassif’s vocal and acting prowess, Virginia Opera General Manager Peter Mark placed her in the company’s resident artist program. Subsequently, she starred as Violetta in “La Traviata” and in the title role of “Carmen,” which she reprises often with various opera companies to critical acclaim.
Last season, she made her Washington National Opera debut as Vitellia in Mozart’s “La Clemenze de Tito” and is thrilled to return to her home base this week as Nedda in “Cav/Pag.”
“Nedda really suits my voice and allows me to take on a character who is hard, yet soft,” she says. “As you journey with her, you see her many sides, and when she’s killed, you can sympathize rather than cheer her death.”
The cast also includes Teatro Colón tenor Gustavo López Manzitti in the double roles of Turiddu and Canio, Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Jane Dutton as Santuzza and rising baritone Andrew Oakden as Alfio and Tonio.
“These roles fit my voice really well,” says Oakden, a Minnesota native. “I’d been covering them in Sarasota, but ended going on for six out of 10 performances. I‘ll make my New York City Opera debut in them this coming September.”
The first-prize winner in the Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition, Oakden was a finalist in the regional Metropolitan Opera Competition and the 2005 MacAllister Awards. He was about to go into law enforcement when his choir director told him he should study opera. He laughed initially, but wisely took her advice and today reaps raves wherever he sings.
Like Nassif, Oakden describes Peter Mark’s direction and the entire Virginia Opera production in superlatives.
“Our Norfolk audience was rowdy and really loved the show,” he says. “My girlfriend told me everyone around her said it’s the best production they’ve ever seen. I’m especially in awe of the chorus and supers, the heart and soul of the organization. After a full day at other jobs, some travel several hours to rehearsals. They’re amazing! Every one of them loves opera passionately. It’s the best, most energetic chorus I’ve ever worked with. They make our job easy.”
IF YOU GO:
Virginia Opera presents Mascagni‘s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Leoncavallo’s “I Pagliacci,” 8 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Free wine and cheese reception Friday, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall lobby.
» Venue: George Mason University Center for the Arts, Fairfax
» Tickets: $44 to $90 at 888-945-2468 or visit www.tickets.com For more info: gmu.edu/cfa
