Boston Singers' Resource News Bulletin, January 31, 2005

Opera is thriving in the New Hampshire Upper Valley. Since 1981 Opera North, based in Lebanon, New Hampshire, has been thrilling audiences each summer with productions of such standards of the operatic repertoire as 'The Marriage of Figaro', 'Carmen', 'The Tales of Hoffmann', 'Eugene Onegin', 'Albert Herring' and 'Ariadne auf Naxos'. Opera North has developed several ambitious programs which both generate revenue and sustain interest in the company and its productions throughout the year. 'Sherry and Sopranos' one of these programs, is discussed by Frances Herbert, its coordinator and an Opera North Advisory Board member.

With a recently renovated 750-seat opera house in Lebanon, NH and with a talent pool that includes both experienced performers from the New York Metropolitan Opera as well as participants in their Young Artists Program, Opera North offers world-class music in a rural community. Under the guidance of Artistic Director, Louis Burkot, it has grown to national prominence during its nearly 25 year history. Executive Director Patricia Compton serves on the board of Opera America and, through her efforts, the National Endowment for the Arts recognized Opera North in 2003 for its artistic and administrative accomplishments.

The highlight of the year is during the summer when two full-length, fully staged operas are produced. But there is also a yearlong effort by the Opera North Board members to maintain the company's presence in the community and to sustain and grow interest in the world of opera. One such effort, both creative as a fund-raiser and important as a community service, is their lecture series known as 'Sherry and Sopranos.' According to program coordinator Frances Herbert, "the primary function is to keep Opera North alive through the winter, since our productions are only in the summer. 'Sherry and Sopranos' makes it to the newspaper. It really keeps Opera North 'out there'". Its premise is to bring opera to the people, right into their living rooms. The series, running for ten weeks from late January through mid-April, is much like, though much more than, typical pre-concert lectures.

To begin with the lectures are hosted at private homes. And, with attendance at the lectures averaging 45 and sometimes exceeding 50 guests, the homes tend to be large and among the most beautiful to be found throughout the Upper Valley. Says Ms Herbert, "finding the homes is a bit of a job. I do it in the summer for the next season. I have to find a house, number one, that lends itself to large presentations. When I look at the house we decide what the maximum number of attendees would be. A lot of these New England houses are chopped into small rooms." And, she comments, "finding a house that is wonderful in the summer doesn't always translate to wonderful in the winter where there are parking issues; once you start having snow banks." On the other hand, since she began her work developing this program in 1997, the effort to find homes has been made somewhat easier because, she says, "Sometimes people come forth and offer their homes. For example, just yesterday we had an event in a lovely home with over 50 people. The host made the announcement that it was really fun to work with Opera North, putting this together, and urged the guests to offer their homes! It was just unsolicited. Even people that do not have adequate homes know people and it's word of mouth. You start networking and it all works out."

Who would open their homes on a wintry Sunday afternoon for this kind of event? Not necessarily opera lovers, it seems. According to Ms Herbert it can be "people who don't know a thing about opera, some people who don't even like opera. We have an event coming up in two weeks. It's a couple that had never been to the opera, they had never heard of Opera North. I went to them absolutely cold because somebody suggested that they had a nice house and maybe they would be amenable. They were a little bit dubious at first. But then they called me two days later and said they would love to do it. At another one in Hanover, where the hostess doesn't particularly like opera, she wants to support the Arts. I remember doing one in a magnificent home for over 50 people. The host really hated opera, it was his wife who was musical. Throughout the whole program I saw him in the back room, pacing. But they gave a fabulous party and they were congenial hosts. That's the way it goes, sometimes!"

But, usually, the hosts are both interested in opera and anxious to help support Opera North. "People are supportive of the arts," says Ms Herbert. "Some people make 'Sherry and Sopranos' their donation to Opera North. Others, even if they are already donors, will host a lecture in addition." Plus, "it's lots of fun. You meet lovely people. You see wonderful homes."

Locating a good lecture site is only part of Ms Herbert's job. The lectures themselves are carefully crafted each season to tie in, as much as possible, with the upcoming opera productions. As she states, "I try to gear at least half the 'Sherry and Sopranos' toward what we're doing in the summer." This year's opera productions, which are fully staged, will be Puccini's 'Tosca' and 'The Gondoliers' by Gilbert and Sullivan. Of the ten lectures in the Series, three look at aspects of Puccini's masterpiece and four relate, either directly or indirectly, to the G & S operetta.

With titles like 'Was Tosca Pushed?' and 'Drumming Your Way to the Throne', one can expect more than a synopsis review. This season's series includes a slide show presentation by the noted architectural historian Susan Wagg of the three historic buildings in Rome - a church, a palace and a fortress - that serve as settings for 'Tosca'. Another lecture takes a look at Gilbert & Sullivan in the context of the art, design, literature and music of turn-of-the-century England. Other lectures will be 'Political Opera'; a discussion about operas in which politics is at least as important as love, 'Lateral Thinking and the Costume Designer'; a demonstration by the award-winning designer Laura Crow of how ideas and moods of a piece transform into fabric, feathers and paint, and 'Sir Arthur Sullivan's Crime'; exploring the decline of Sullivan's reputation after his death.

The success of this program over the past ten years is due, in large part, to its location in Lebanon. Ms Herbert: "We rely heavily on Dartmouth College. There is so much talent out there." This talent includes lecturers and Dartmouth professors Bill Summers and Jim Tatum. But speakers are found elsewhere, too. Richard Beams, a regular lecturer for the Boston Lyric Opera, is included on this year's roster. So is author Charlie Riley ('The Jazz Age in France'), "a popular speaker. He teaches at The City University of New York and he's a real Renaissance man" and architectural historian Susan Wagg. "Her events always sell out immediately. She has a real following, she's very good." Just as homes are found by word of mouth, lecturers know about other lecturers and professors know professors elsewhere and make recommendations.

The audience for the series tends to be older and well-informed. "We don't get young people with kids as we had hoped." "Originally, we thought we would get people that might have some interest in opera but didn't know much about it. It hasn't turned out to be that at all. We sometimes will get people that don't know anything about opera or aren't familiar with one of the operas that we're doing. But for the most part these are people that are already hooked on opera."

The series has grown quickly since its inception. As Ms Herbert explains, "it was begun by Linda Wilkinson who was on the board and then she became president. She came up with the name 'Sherry and Sopranos' and got it started. It just took off. The first year we had three or four lectures and there were just a few people - 15 to 20." And by always striving to keep the lectures entertaining and informative the audience continues to grow.

The word is spreading. "While we don't have people traveling great distances, we do have people who will travel almost an hour. Anybody that loves opera is so delighted to help, to recommend people, to be here. It's a lovely, lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon."

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The 'Sherry and Sopranos' lectures are held on Sundays at 3:00 PM.
There is a $25 fee per person.

'Sullivan & Gilbert a la Carte' - January 23

'Sir Arthur Sullivan's Crime' - January 30

'Was Tosca Pushed?' - February 6

'Puccini's Tosca: 'Sardoodledum"?' - February 13 (sold out)

'Political Opera' - February 27

'Drumming Your Way to the Throne' - March 6

'Art and Architecture in Tosca's Rome' - March 13 (sold out)

'Those Eminent Victorians' - March 20

'Waltzing In and Out of Opera' - April 3 (sold out)

'Lateral Thinking' and the Costume Designer' - April 10

For additional information about 'Sherry and Sopranos, 2005', call 603-448-4141.

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The 2005 Opera North summer season:

'Tosca' by Giacomo Puccini
Sat Aug 13, 2005 to Sat Aug 27, 2005

'The Gondoliers' by Gilbert and Sullivan
Thu Aug 18, 2005 to Fri Aug 26, 2005

All performances will be held at the Lebanon Opera House,
City Hall Building, Route 4, Lebanon, NH.
Tickets: $17, $30, $40, $60 & $75. Tosca Matinee prices: $5 & $25.
Information about Opera North is found at www.operanorth.org or call 603-448-0400