Opera talent shines at annual show

Impressively full-toned, full-bodied voices filled the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts Saturday and Sunday night. The Opera Theatre VCU and VCU Symphony Orchestra presented Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” sung in English.

The sparse set of columns and potted palms made it obvious the music department is painfully under-funded. Fortunately the amazing vocal talent made up for any flaws in the production.

The floor was painted a distractingly bright-colored patchwork of pastels, and the costumes ranged from Roman centurion to Greek toga to Persian turban. The program says the setting is in fact ancient Egypt.

The opera is almost more like a musical in its style. It has parts of straight dialogue as well as talk-singing and, of course, straight singing. Most of the words sung were easy to understand.

The story is about Prince Tamino (Chris Ahart) and the bird catcher Papageno’s (Jarvis Wyche) quest to find their true loves, Pamina (Sarah Motley) and Papagena (Michele Marin).

The high priest Sarastro (Matthew Presson) has stolen Pamina, so her mother, the Queen of the Night (Michele Orr), sends Tamino to rescue her. The prince uses a magic flute to call to his lady. In the end they are all reunited.

The program points out that the opera utilizes the symbolism of the number three as an integral part of the story. There are three attendants, three spirits and three temples of virtue.

This symbolism is generally seen as Mozart espousing the ideas of the Masonic Order to which he belonged.

Wyche’s portrayal of Papageno clearly stole the show. His comedic and vocal stylings were impeccable. His goofy grin warmed the hearts of the audience.

Graduating this spring, Wyche has been accepted at the Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory and Northwestern University for graduate opera studies.

The most impressive voice was that of Orr in the role of the queen. A 2006 graduate, her voice reached almost inhuman highs and resonated with amazing strength and quality.

The queen’s three attendants, Lauren Giere, Kimberly Fox and Andrea Harris, played a significant role in the show and all had beautiful and commanding voices. Dressed in black, they are the perfect sensual and slightly evil vixens.

Motley’s Pamina is sweet and innocent. Her long blonde locks and purple gown float as soft and bright as her voice.

Graduating this spring, Motley has been accepted to the Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, Peabody Conservatory and Boston Conservatory for graduate opera studies.

Professors Melanie Kohn Day and James Smith-Parham directed the opera, and Jean Mont