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Life & Arts

‘Secret' offers operatic update

Student-run company hopes to attract some new fans with comedy

by CHRISTIAN OCHOA
The Daily Cougar 

Students in the Moores School of Music hope the creation of a new music company and presentations of contemporary works will help win opera some new fans.

The Third Ward Opera Company, which is entirely student-run, will make its debut Saturday with The Secret Marriage.

"It gives more breadth of students to perform opera," said Dominique Røyem, conductor of The Secret Marriage. "It also gives good training on how to lead an art organization, which is something that most of us are aiming to do one day." 

The Secret Marriage includes the star-crossed love story. A clandestine affair begins when Paulino secretly marries his love, Carolina. But her father, Geronimo, is against his noble daughter marrying a commoner. 

In order to win Geronimo's blessing, Paulino comes up with the idea of asking his friend, Count Robinson, to marry Carolina's sister. Unfortunately for Paulino, the Count becomes smitten with Paulino's wife. 

"It's a typical farce, pretty freaking hilarious," said opera graduate student Zachary Wilder, who plays Paulino.

Originally based on the play The Clandestine Marriage, which was later turned in to an opera and performed in 1792, the opera received a contemporary facelift and a new setting ? the 1960s. 

"Setting this work in the '60s allows the audience to relate to the material while still maintaining the light nature of the work," Wilder said. 

The company hopes the updated time period will make the production as enjoyable as possible. 

"We just want to make opera as fun, entertaining and accessible as possible for everyone," Sara Nowina, director of The Secret Marriage, said. "Because it's such a dying art form, no one thinks to expose it to a lot of people to it.

"So many people have these interesting preconceived notions on what opera is ? such as the stereotype of the large-breasted woman in horns and a breast plate. But it can be silly and odd; it can be about people stuck in the airport. It can be about anything, really, and in your language, too." 

Wilder emphasized the production's merit, basic plot and all. 

"I don't want people to think it's a lesser opera because it's simpler," Wilder said. "There is some really great broad comedy, including serious cat fighting, coupled with singing opera. It's really just a hilarious comedy."

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