Calgary Opera offers a double bill
Usually when tragedy and comedy meet it’s not a great mix. But in the case of Calgary Opera’s double bill of Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini and Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo the opposing emotions form an evening of beautiful opera.
The operas are sung by an all-Canadian cast. Recent Order of Canada recipient John Fanning plays major roles in both productions while Marc Hervieux reprises his award-winning performance in Pagliacci.
Baritone Fanning’s nine seasons at the Met as well as his international experiences help him meet the challenges of the double bill. In Pagliacci he plays Tino a travelling clown who’s part of a troupe laden with dark emotions. That’s the tragedy but in the satirical comedy Gianni Schicchi he plays the title role outwitting a family searching for their patriarch’s will. The character Gianni Schicchi is a bit of a con man but with good intentions. Fanning loves the various layers in villainous roles that his big baritone portrays with seeming ease.
“It’s like two short stories instead of one” Fanning says. “They are both such brilliant pieces. With the comedy following the tragedy it is lots of fun and stretches both ends of the spectrum.”
When he isn’t singing in operas Fanning is highly sought after as a teacher in various Canadian opera programs.
“I love teaching. It has been such a thrill here in Calgary because I have worked in a program somewhere else with every young artist in Schicchi. To teach someone and then to end up drawing cheques from the same company is very exciting.” Fanning is impressed with Calgary Opera’s “batting average” as the company has employed eight singers from the young artists’ programs.
But no good opera is complete without a great stage and that’s where award-winning Quebec stage director Alain Gauthier steps in with an intricate set full of elegance. Gauthier says there is an innate cohesive construction to the evening that shows the similarities between the two short operas. Surprising and delighting the audience is continually on his mind. Though awards are encouraging Gauthier says knowing he has connected with members of the audience is the ultimate reward.
Gauthier and Hervieux have collaborated on 15 or more opera productions and are fans of each other’s talent and achievements.
At the end of the resounding success of Pagliacci in Quebec Hervieux says he was on the edge of taking the role further. Calgary Opera’s production gives him the opportunity to do so. Working with the new cast brings deeper perceptions.
“I want to play authentic and closest to reality and try to understand better when working the same production with new people”
