Shana Blake Hill and Vale Rideout rehearse a love scene of Marguerite and Faust, as Mephistopheles, played by Jamie Offenbach, casts his evil spell.
NIC’s Boswell Hall will be hosting Gunoud’s intense opera, “Faust.” Performances will be held Friday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 25 at 2:00p.m. “Faust” is an internationally acclaimed opera about the epic battle of good and evil.
Faust, the old professor, restored to youth and vitality by his deal with the devil, is played by nationally acclaimed Vale Rideout, whose love songs soar on majestic high C’s. He has been acclaimed by New York Times, Opera News, Boston Globe, Denver Post, to name a few. Just this year, he will be singing lead roles in Tampa and Phoenix, will be a soloist with the Dallas Symphony at Carnegie Hall, and will have leading roles in world premieres of two new operas.
Marguerite, the beautiful, gentle innocent who is seduced by Faust, condemned by her brother, and reduced to insanity and murder is played by Shana Blake Hill. Her performance of Rosalba in the Cincinnati Opera’s Florencia en el Amazonas was hailed by the national Opera News as “floods of glorious sound.”
Bass Jamie Offenbach, makes the Satanic Méphistophélès alternatively thunder through the auditorium then softens to hypnotically sweet tones of enticement. Jamie has sung leading roles with the opera houses in Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Baltimore, San Diego Opera and many more. He is a regular at the Savonlinna, Finland Music Festival.
Valentin, the devout soldier challenges Mephistopheles and his protégé, Faust, to avenge his sister’s honor, but finds the sword is no match for satanic power. His role is played by Jason Detwiler, whose career has encompassed over thirty leading roles from San Diego to Virginia.
This year North Idaho also gets to meet Michele Detwiler as Dr. Faust’s student, Siebel. Critics have described her as “amber-voiced,” a “velvety mezzo soprano.” “riveting,” “holding center stage commandingly.”
Stage directing will be by Aaron St. Clair Nicholson, a frequent lead singer at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Acclaimed throughout North America for both singing and acting, he debuted as a singer at the Met under the direction of the famed Placido Domingo. His concept for this performance of Faust includes the mists and long dark shadows of German impressionism, similar to the feel of the original Dracula movie.
The symphony for this performance includes 40 instrumentalists from Coeur d’Alene and Spokane Symphonies, conducted by Todd Robinson, General Director of Opera Coeur d’Alene, himself a gifted singer and director with an international career. The chorus includes 30 music teachers, music students and many soloists and performers in their own right. Its members have been hired from all over North Idaho and Eastern Washington.
Costumes, stage manager, and special rehearsal accompanist have all been flown in. Chorus members have been studying their French, syllable by syllable. English supertitles are being prepared for projection over the stage, so the audience will not miss a single moment of the drama
Faust is tempted by things all of us want: youth restored, the love of our hearts, power over rivals. But in getting these things, Faust devastates the lives of those he touches. The story is ancient, but as timeless as today’s news.
There will be an opportunity to learn more about the opera, its history and details, in a three-hour class, this Saturday, Sept. 18, from 9a.m. to noon, for a cost of $25, in the Todd Lecture Hall at NIC.
Tickets cost $35 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 769 7780.
For information call Mike Bullard at (208) 659-2491.
