Opera of the Hamptons
presents
SUMMER IS A COMING IN
May 21, 2005 St. Mark�s Church, Westhampton Beach, New York
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Hai-Ting Allison Chinn, David Katz, Maria Ciccaglione, Douglas Jabara, Molly Mustonen
Opera Company Loses Star the Night Before the Show
What do you do if Richard Hobson, your star Metropolitan Opera baritone, calls late the night before your season opening show and explains that, due to a serious family emergency, he has to fly to Chicago? Well, if you�re Barbara Giancola, the unflappable Artistic Director of Opera of the Hamptons, you don�t panic. Barbara called Douglas Jabara, who is already contracted to sing Escamillo in Carmen for the company later in the year and, despite his having a big concert on Sunday, Douglas, a consummate professional, appeared with the Opera Company on Saturday at St. Mark�s Church in Westhampton Beach. It was not even simply taking on a role that he already knew, for this production of Summer is a Coming In was a veritable potpourri of music ranging from classical opera to modern musicals and contemporary opera, all designed to set the scene for a summer of happiness, warmth and love.
The elegant new Church Hall at St. Mark�s proved an admirable setting with great acoustics, and the audience was immediately in rapport with the artists. The intimate surroundings enabled them to fully appreciate the beauty and complexity of these beautiful voices.
Maria Ciccaglione and David Katz are both now firm favorites with Opera of the Hamptons audiences and they led the company with that classic drinking toast �Libiamo� from La Traviata, followed by a selection of all time opera favorites. Then a newcomer to the company was introduced. Hai-Ting Allison Chinn is a young mezzo-soprano with a great future, based on this performance. She exhibited great range and beautiful tone and diction in music as varied as �Una voce poco fa� from Rossini�s Barber of Seville to a wonderful duet with Douglas Jabara in the delightful aria, �Lacem darem la mano� from Mozart�s Don Giovanni and then moved into a very different form of music with Kurt Weil�s haunting �Lost in the Stars.�
The power of ensemble singing was shown to full effect as the whole company blended their different voices and styles into Borodin�s beautiful music, as they sang �And this is my beloved� from that delightful and too seldom produced show, Kismet.
After the interval, this fast-paced production continued to enthrall with selections from Phantom of the Opera, Tales of Hoffman and Les Miserables. The finale had been arranged originally to showcase Richard Hobson, whose performances as Porgy in Porgy and Bess have drawn rave reviews around the country. In Richard�s unfortunate absence, David Katz manfully stepped into a role designed solely to be sung by an African-American baritone. This white, Jewish cantor explained how, last season, Richard had explained and demonstrated to him how to perform this role. After dedicating this to Richard, he then went on to give a virtuoso performance that really had the audience shouting acclaim.
An integral part of all Opera of the Hampton�s seasons is the introduction of new talent. Here Molly Mustonen, winner of the 2005 Franco Gentilesca Young Artist award, made her debut. Molly, a vivacious blond, displayed a beautiful soprano voice, together with excellent stage presence as she sang �They call me Mimi� from La Boheme followed by a plaintive love song, �Trees on the Mountain,� from a contemporary opera, Susanna, by Carlisle Floyd and then teamed with Douglas Jabara in that yearning duet �One hand, One heart� from West Side Story. Molly is scheduled to appear in other Opera of the Hamptons� productions this season and she looks to have a bright future.
All in all, this concert was a wonderful opening to the new season and full praise is due especially to Atarah Hazzan for her customary virtuoso performance as Music Director. This season will break new ground later in the summer at a new venue at the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall in East Hampton with La Boheme as well as performances at regular venues such as the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall in Riverhead and Castello di Borghese Winery in Cutchogue, and a special benefit in Hampton Bays to help the restoration of the historic Ada�s Attic.
Details of the season and tickets can be obtained from Opera of the Hamptons at 631 728 8804.
�Roy Bradbrook
(Dans Paper)
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