Alberta Vocal Arts’ latest production is Cavalleria Rusticana, and it’s the largest production to date for the company. To bolster its numbers for the one-act Italian opera, it put the call out to community choir singers, and 30 have signed up to share the stage with the professionals. “The score itself lends to community,” said Kathleen Morrison, Alberta Vocal Arts founder, and artistic and executive director. “It’s about a rural town; you need people in the town, you need the drama, and for us to grow this way and bring all these different elements in such a short opera is a really palatable way to have more growth.” Morrison has brought in a main cast of five, a chamber orchestra of nine players, an accordionist, a nine-person chorus, along with the non-auditioned community choir of 30 singers of all ages to complement the tragedy set in rural Sicily and composed by Pietro Mascagni that premiered in Rome on May 17, 1890. “It’s a big production, and there’s a lot of moving parts,” said Morrison. “I’m so proud of our team and of everyone that’s involved in this production. We taught them the language, which is Italian; we taught them the music. We’re putting it all together and our chorus members have been really fantastic leaders in guiding the community members.” Meagan Badger is one of those community singers who signed up after seeing the call put out by Alberta Vocal Arts on social media. She sang in a choir when she was young and wants to try it again. “I’ve always loved music, and I’ve loved opera,” she said. “I thought for a first-time experience to be able to actually sing and be part of an opera choir—wow, it’s been a bit of a steep learning curve, but that’s because I haven’t sung in a choir for a little while, so to be able to jump back in and get all the expertise and learning, I feel much more comfortable and ready to be on stage. I’m ecstatic.” The opera is a tragedy, and it’s a love triangle of revenge, murder, betrayal and jealousy. Barbara King is playing the lead role of a local village girl named Santuzza. King says it’s her dream role. “She is the emotional centre of this opera and she goes through love, betrayal, humiliation and desperation,” said King. “Singing this role in an intimate setting is so impactful; the audience is right there, up close and personal. They see every emotion on your face; they feel everything.” King has made a career as a mezzo-soprano opera singer and is sharing some of her stage presence with the community singers who are making their first stage appearance. “I think because I’ve been doing this for a while, I can bring all of my experience to them,” she said. “I can teach them something, and I hope they can learn from me. Alberta Vocal Arts is giving these singers an opportunity to come together to do something different in an intimate space.” Barbara Thorson has been singing in choirs for close to 35 years and says her experience will be tested in the production. “The thing about being in an opera is you have to be able to sing the piece, but you also have to move at the same time,” she said. “So moving and singing at the same time and remembering your words can be quite tricky.” Performances are August 26, 28 and 29 at the Mamdani Opera Centre at 1315 7 St. S.W. You can learn more about it at https://www.albertavocalarts.com/.
