VCU Opera Receives Honor from National Opera Association

By Andrea Almoite
VCU Department of Music

VCU Opera’s spring 2011 production of “Hansel and Gretel” was awarded second prize in the National Opera Association’s (NOA) Opera Production competition. Entries in the competition were “blindly” judged in a videotaped performance and were divided into five categories based on production budget, size of overall music program and the level of vocal training of the cast members.

“Hansel and Gretel” was directed by music faculty members Melanie Kohn Day and Kenneth Wood and featured undergraduate students from the Department of Music’s Voice program.

Each spring, VCU Opera presents a full-length opera production, with costumes, sets and lights. According to Day, the director of VCU Opera, it is not often that academic opera productions feature a cast completely comprised of undergraduate students. In addition to the fully staged spring production, students participate in an Opera Scenes performance in the fall. VCU Opera is also proud of its ongoing relationship with the Virginia Opera and Lyric Opera of Virginia, which includes regular field trips, workshops and master classes with staff and artists, all of which help the students develop as performers.

“Hansel and Gretel,” with music by Engelbert Humperdinck and a libretto by his sister Adeleid Wette, adapts the original Grimm Brothers fairytale to make it child-friendly. The main points of the story in their production remained the same, and the fairytale plot gave VCU Opera plenty of opportunity to remain creative with sets, costumes and technical, richly visual and artistically creative special effects.  

Productions such as “Hansel and Gretel” do not come together without the collaborative efforts and commitment of many people from across the School of the Arts and beyond. The VCU Symphony and conductor Daniel Myssyk supplied a live full orchestra for each performance. VCU Music’s Concert Hall and Facilities Manager Curt Blankenship designed lights, and music alumnus Roland Karnatz served as technical director. Theatre VCU provided stage management, makeup assistance and technical assistance. Judith Steele from the VCU Department of Dance served as choreographer for the production. The VCU Opera student vocalists were joined by the Greater Richmond Children’s Choir, who played the Gingerbread Children.

Since 1955, NOA has worked nationally to promote appreciation of opera and music theatre as well as educational opportunities for those studying the craft, with the goal of improving the scope and quality of opera nationwide. They serve their members by offering a variety of learning opportunities including panels, workshops and continuing education, and by encouraging the development of young artists and composers through their competitions and performance opportunities. Wood sits on the board of NOA and ensures that VCU Opera’s students take full advantage of all the benefits that NOA offers.

The NOA Opera Production competition is open to all small regional opera companies in the United States and all college and university opera programs. The competition awards prizes for productions that are creative and demonstrate a high quality of work, and VCU Opera is thrilled to be recognized as a leader among these institutions.