It’s Hansel and Gretel for 2010
July 29 and 31, 2010 at Merrill Auditorium
PORTopera’s choice for July 2010’s mainstage production is Engelbert Humperdinck’s rendition of the Brothers Grimm tale Hansel and Gretel. Long thought of as an opera for children, Artistic Director Dona D. Vaughn’s vision for it is far more intricate. She says, “Our production will concentrate on the real themes of the opera, but it will retain all of the magic for which the opera is famous so that young people can still get an unforgettable opera experience from seeing it.”
The opera’s underlying themes deal with abandonment, starvation, fear, separation, survival and reconciliation. “Like so many ‘fairy tales,’ this opera has a deceptively simple story, that when penetrated, reveals big ideas that are not only provocative, but lend themselves to the operatic stage,” reports Dona.
To present these ideas and in recognition of Portland’s extraordinary diversity, the PORTopera production will employ a 16-member multinational children’s chorus drawn from Portland’s immigrant community. Many of these children have experienced the opera’s themes in their own lives. The children will receive intensive training in opera in June and July to prepare them 
for performing in the opera’s final reunion scene. Plans are in the works to have each chorus member appear in his or her national dress. “PORTopera welcomes this wonderful opportunity to strengthen the community through a major artistic endeavor,” Dona says. “Our hope is that the impact of this will be long-lasting.”
Also appearing in the opera will be children from Portland Ballet as the “angels” in the dream sequence. The production will be conducted by Israel Gursky who returns to the company from his post at Washington National Opera.
Performance dates are Thursday July 29 at 7:30 P.M. and Saturday, July 31 at 2:00 PM (matinee). Tickets go on sale November 19 in time for holiday gift-giving. Hansel & Gretel is ideal for introducing the young people in your life to opera. Accordingly, we are offering a 25% discount on tickets for children 12 and under. To order call PortTix at 207-842-0800 or visit www.porttix.com.
Hansel and Gretel is supported in part by an
award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Cast of “Hansel and Gretel” has
old friends and a big surprise
PORTopera’s 2010 mainstage production reintroduces us to mezzo-soprano Heather Johnson, who was one of our Young Artists in 2001 and since carved out a nice career for herself at New York City Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis and elsewhere. She will sing the role of Hansel. Gretel will be sung by Angela Mortellaro. Heather and Angela recently performed these roles together at Sarasota Opera. But the real surprise is the role of the Witch, which will be sung by one of PORTopera’s early stars who has made a career of singing unusual roles.
