When Flora was staged in the assembly halls of Charleston in 1735, it became the first opera to be presented in the American colonies. The performance went so well that the work was restaged the following year in the city's then-new Dock Street Theatre.
The 2010 Spoleto Festival USA will revisit this bit of opera history when it presents Flora at the Dock Street Theatre, which will reopen after a three-year restoration during the festival's run from May 28 through June 13.
Flora was adapted from a play into musical theater described as an "enchanting yet shrewdly satirical" look at a woman's role in society. It epitomizes a genre called ballad opera, of which John Gay's The Beggar's Opera is the most famous example.
"(Flora) had a real success in the 18th century," said Nigel Redden, the festival's general director. "I think it's going to be a complete delight. It was a piece that was done throughout the 18th century. Any piece that lasts for 70 or 80 years is likely to have something more to it than just an immediate appeal."
Redden said that much research went into finding Flora's tunes, noting that ballad operas were performed to popular tunes of the day. The tunes in the festival's new production of Flora have been re-orchestrated by composer Neely Bruce, who will also conduct the Spoleto performances. The production's stage director, John Pascoe, also designed what are described as "whimsical" sets and costumes. Anne-Carolyn Bird will sing the title role, and baritone Tyler Duncan will play Mr. Friendly, her suitor.
Spoleto is one of the world's most important multidisciplinary festivals, featuring opera, dance, chamber music, theater, jazz and orchestral music.
Other highlights of the 2010 festival will include the Gate Theatre of Dublin's production of Noel Coward's Present Laughter, which will also be presented in the Dock Street Theatre. Redden called Gate Theatre's performers the "most consistent visitors in the Dock Street since I've been the director of the festival." Redden was the festival's general manager from 1986 to 1991. He became the festival's general director in 1995.
Famed dancer Nina Ananiashvili will perform the title role of Giselle in a production presented by the National Ballet of Georgia.
Two operas will explore what Redden described as "gods-and-goddesses themes," namely Wolfgang Rihm's opera Proserpina and Haydn's Philemon and Baucis.
Proserpina is scored for soprano (Heather Buck) and an all-female chorus. It will depict the tragic legend of the Roman deity Proserpina, Greek mythology's Persephone, goddess of springtime and queen of the underworld.
As for Philemon, it is a marionette opera that Haydn composed for Prince Esterházy when Empress Maria Theresa visited him in 1773. The production of Philemon at Spoleto will feature the marionettes of the Colla Marionette Company of Milan. The music will come courtesy of a pit orchestra consisting of singers and members of the Spoleto Festival Orchestra.
One way that the 2010 festival will differ markedly from the 33 festivals that preceded it is a change in leadership of the chamber-music component. Geoff Nuttall, also a violinist in the St. Lawrence String Quartet, will take over for the popular Charles Wadsworth. Redden expressed confidence that Nuttall would build on Wadsworth's phenomenal success.
"(Geoff) knows the festival," he said. "He's someone who learned what the Spoleto festival was by being a part of it for many, many years.… Building on something that's strong is terrific."
kkeuffel@wsjournal.com
727-7337
The 2010 Spoleto Festival USA will run May 28 through June 13 in Charleston, S.C. Single tickets range from $10 to $150; see www.spoletousa.org or call 843-579-3100.
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