Workshop to extravaganzize
by Mike McDermott, reporter

    Variety is the spice of life is a phrase familiar to everyone, but it is not often put into practice with such sincerity as it will be in this semester’s Opera Workshop final production, Opera Extravaganza, on Saturday and Sunday in the South Campus’ Carillon recital hall.

   The event will be the second production for the class, marking the first “mini-season” since its inception four years ago.

   The first production earlier this semester was a shortened version of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

   The most prominent feature separating the first and second productions is the compilation of excerpts from different operas that make up the May production, Darlene Marks, class instructor, said.

   “The variety of styles and periods in which the different operas are written will not only mean there’s something for everyone in the production, but will introduce operas of all kinds to a segment of the public that may be unfamiliar with the style of music,” she said.

   Marks said the event also showcases a variety of students singing the music.

   Virtually every student in our performance represents a different profession or pursuit,” she said.

   The cast also spans all age groups.

   Lauren Germinario, a Paschal High School student, will sing the role of Rosina from The Barber of Seville.

   “My mother has been taking continuing education classes for a few years, and all she talks about is Opera Workshop. After seeing a couple of her performances, I was inspired to take the class myself, starting last semester,” she said.

   Annette Germinario, Lauren’s mother, is in her third year of the class. She is currently a free-lance writer.

   Bill Fro-wan, a retired engineer from General Dynamics (now Lockheed), has also been a student for three years.

   “Darlene’s idea of performing a mixture of scenes from different operas has been wonderful,” Frowan said.

   “This mixture gives everyone a taste of what a variety of operas sound like, and it gives the students a chance to sing roles from operas that are really very different in their styles of writing,” he said.

   Frowan has become good enough that his experiences in Mark’s class have lead to a semi-permanent position with the Fort Worth Opera chorus.

   Included in the show’s line up of varied opera excerpts are scenes from The Barber of Seville, by Rossini, and those from lesser known works like Kurt Weill’s Street Scene set in a post-depression era New York tenement house.

   Daniel Starks, a 21-year-old student, is not just singing opera for the first time.

   “I’ve never even seen an opera,” he revealed. “I love classical music though,” the music major, who is an accomplished pianist having won several awards in competition, said.

   “I didn’t realize just how many well-known tunes came from opera, including some we will be performing,” he said.

   Starks will perform the role of Luis in four scenes from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers. He plans to pursue a major in music therapy at TWU in Denton after his studies at TCC conclude.
Other careers represented by some of the performers include registered nurse technician, professional landscape designer, a retired dentist, a department store manager, a waiter, a bouncer at a jazz club, a professional sky writer and an aspiring actress/model.

   The performances are free and will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

   The Carillon recital hall is in Fine Arts complex.