Sept. 5, 2003

Opera International Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary

By Jane Lingo

Washington-based Opera International presented its 10th Season Opera Gala in GW’s Lisner Auditorium with two performances Aug. 8 and 10. The annual program consisted of Act II of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” and the final acts of Verdi’s “Othello” and “Rigoletto.” There also was a fully costumed cast reappearance with the company singing the party aria from “La Traviata” to mark the anniversary.

In his Washington Post review entitled, “Actors Take the Cake at Opera’s Party,” Joe Banno characterized the work of stage and artistic director Muriel Von Villas as “tradition-bound” but cited “her ability to draw telling behavioral detail and credible acting from her singers.” He also mentioned the “evocative lighting” by Nancy Schertler and “the understated elegance of Bill Clarke’s set designs.” Noting that Opera International has sought to showcase Chinese singers over the years, Banno recognized the fine singing of both the Chinese and American singers in the performances. He stated that “conductor Edward Roberts drew remarkably supple and refulgent playing from his 28-piece pick-up orchestra.”

Freelance arts critic Bob Anthony called the program “a triple treat.” He said, “The quality of the singing and acting matched that found in the fine opera houses of this country.” He also praised Schertler for her “dramatic lighting,” declared Roberts “totally sensitive to the singers,” and noted Von Villas’s “excellent comedic touch” in her direction of the Mozart section.

Muriel Hom founded Opera International in 1994. The Bethesda, MD, resident built the company around a three-fold mission: to provide an apprenticeship program for young operatic artists of all nationalities; to broaden the interest of the community, particularly young people, in the art of opera; and to provide world class opera at affordable prices. In 1991, she was honored in Taiwan, and in 1995, by the Organization of Chinese American Women for her 40 years of work and dedication in aiding and developing singers. She now serves as producer/director with Mei-jong Hung as producer.

Since its inception, Opera International’s performances have been based in Lisner Auditorium. Beginning with “The Marriage of Figaro” in 1994, other productions have included: “La Boheme,” “Madame Butterfly,” “The Barber of Seville” and “Falstaff.”

Von Villas has been associated with the Opera International performances from the beginning, as has Roberts. Von Villas is a faculty member both at GW and Georgetown University, where she directs the Opera Theatre and Vocal Workshops and teaches voice and opera history.

Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu