Fresno opera workshop

Gilbert and Sullivan review will include pirates, sailors, gondoliers and a fairyland and more

By Valerie Westen
The Collegian

The Fresno State Opera Workshop has joined forces again with the Chamber singers to bring the campus a variety of scenes by the 19th century’s kings of comic operetta.

In the show, “There is beauty in the bellow of the blast,” students will perform pieces from several plays written by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan.

Randolf Lacy teaches the opera workshop and is the show’s director. Anna Hamre who conducts the Chamber singers helps him. About 40 students are participating in what Lacy calls a “very charming show.”

“We expect a good turn out, because there are many people in Fresno that know and really appreciate Gilbert and Sullivan,” Lacy said.

The British comic opera will include a wide variety of themes such as pirates, sailors, gondoliers and a fairyland.

Johnathan Hernandez, a graduate student in English, has taken the workshop for three semesters and says he loves to perform.

“It is great to see how everything falls into place, and it is a great experience for all of us,” Hernandez said, “The workshop is not like other classes, we do not get lectured at during the semester, but we work on our own most of the time, it is a great feeling of independence.”

Another cast member, Hanna Nielsen, a graduate in vocal performance, is taking the opera workshop for the first time.

“One of the great things about the workshop is that we get to work with people from all across the spectrum, from freshmen to sophomores and we all benefit from each other,” Nielsen said.

The production is a student-run show suitable for all ages. The students enrolled in the class worked on everything from costumes to marketing and programming.

Many of his students agree that working under the direction of Lacy is a great experience. Hernandez said Lacy is always open to feedback and willing to take on student ideas.

Nielsen also enjoys that her professor is flexible because “it makes it a student show and showcases the students’ creativity.”

“On opening night, everything is going to fall into place and the audience will be able to feel the energy and see the results of our work.” Nielsen said.

Hernandez said the show should be “melodramatic, cheesy and over the top.”

“There is beauty in the bellow of the blast” opens this Saturday, May 6 at 7.30 p.m. and will perform again Sunday, May 7 at 3 p.m. in the Fresno State Concert Hall. A reception will follow the opening night on Saturday.

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