Opera Roanoke Takes Over Floyd

Linda Fallon, Jax Board President; Jeff Marks, CEO WDBJ7; Roxanne Marks.
Linda Fallon, Jax Board President; Jeff Marks, CEO WDBJ7; Roxanne Marks.

A near-sell-out crowd recently enjoyed the presentations of many apprentice artists enrolled in Opera Roanoke’s educational program –  a group that mentors the next generation of vocalists, set and costume-designers, choreographers, and musicians for the art of operatic performance.

Co-led by Scott Williamson, Opera Roanoke’s artistic director and tenor, and Amy Cofield Williamson, soprano, the group presented arias from a variety of operatic genres before they offered the main event: Gilbert & Sullivan’s Operetta, Trial by Jury.

 The crowd enjoyed excerpts from Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflote, Giulio Cesare, and Orlando, sung “in character” by the apprentices. These rising star artists include: Asherah Capellaro, Steele Fitzwater,  Heidi Madsen (apprentice accompanist), Adam McAllister, Leah Melfi, Grace Ellen Moore, Jeremy O’Brian, Brynn Scozzari and Brooke Tolley.

Wrapping up the first half of the program was a stunning, passionate duet from Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, performed by Scott and Amy Williamson. All involved appeared to thoroughly enjoy their time in Floyd and the audience appreciated their talent and enthusiasm.

 The second half of the program was the hilarious Trial by Jury by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. About a breach of promise of marriage suit in England’s 1800s, the operetta is a send-up of the legal system of its time.

The cast added modern references to the lyrics, referencing “the reign of William Clinton” and the trial’s setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains, delighting the audience. In the end, the cad of a defendant (played by Scott Williamson) is allowed to sever his ties to the beautiful plaintiff (Brooke Tolley) because the judge (Adam McAllister) marries her himself.

The apprentices played various individual roles in the play, as well as the chorus (the jurists). The audience and cast agreed that the intimacy of the performance environment at The Jacksonville Center was a stellar venue for the presentation.

Audience and cast members were able to meet and chat with one another after the performance during a reception. This Opera Roanoke event was the final performance in the 2013-14 series of concerts brought to Floyd by WDBJ7  which has renewed its sponsorship of next year’s concert series. 

 For more information about The Jax visit jacksonvillecenter.org or call 540-745-2784. The Jax is located at 220 Parkway Lane South in Floyd, ½ mile south of the stoplight on Route 8. Regular hours are: Monday – Saturday, 10AM – 5PM; Sunday 12AM – 5PM.

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