Author: operaontap

This Evening’s Program:

Straight from the tap, Freddy’s Bar and the Divas of Opera on Tap bring you the Home Brewed Opera series: funny, engaging, immersive operatic concerts in a casual setting. In this edition, we raise a glass to all of the operatic character making lemon meringue pie out of the lemons life deals them.

Come scoglio from Cosi fan tutte   by W.A. Mozart – Victoria Benson
Se Romeo t’uccise un figlio from I Capuleti ed i Montecchi  by V. Bellini – Brittany Fowler
Adieu notre petite table from Manon by J. Massenet – Eugenia Forteza
Snowmaiden’s Aria from The Snow Maiden  by N. Rimsky-Korsakov – Joanie Brittingham
Soliloquy from Carousel    by Rodgers & Hammerstein – Luke van Meveren
Poison Aria from Romeo e Juliette   by C. Gounod – Laura Soto-Bayomi

SHORT INTERMISSION

Things Change Jo from Little Women  by M. Adamo – Brittany Fowler
Avant de quitter ces lieux from Faust by C. Gounod – Luke van Meveren
Anne Trulove’s Aria from Rake’s Progress  by I. Stravinsky – Laura Soto-Bayomi
Jewel Aria from Faust   by C. Gounod – Victoria Benson
I Feel Pretty from West Side Story  by L. Bernstein – Eugenia Forteza
Poisoning Pigeons in the Park    by T. Lehrer – Joanie Brittingham

 

*This performance is part of the 2017 NYOperaFest, produced by the New York Opera Alliance. For more information about over 50 operatic events happening throughout NYC in May and June, visit NYOperaFest.com

 

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This Evening’s Performers:

Victoria Benson
Soprano
victoriabenson.com

Brittany Fowler
Mezzo-Soprano
brittanyfowlermezzo.com

Eugenia Forteza
Soprano
eugeniaforteza.com

Joanie Brittingham
Soprano
joaniebrittingham.com

Luke van Meveren
Baritone

Laura Soto-Bayomi
Soprano
laurasoto-bayomi.com

Nicholas Place
Pianist

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Learn more about Opera on Tap:
Hailed as “raucous and sublime” by the New York Sun, Opera on Tap has been bringing opera to the uninitiated in bars and other alternative spaces since 2005. Born in the backroom of Freddy’s Bar in Brooklyn, Opera on Tap has been steadily working on world domination one aria at a time, and now has nineteen national and three international chapters! Find out more at operaontap.org.

Join our mailing list to hear about our upcoming performances or connect to us on Facebook, twitter (@OperaonTapNYC), or Instagram (@OperaonTap).

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Many many thanks to our home base, Freddy’s, for continuing to support our work!

This Evening’s Program:

CLICK HERE FOR TRANSLATIONS

Set 1:
Denise Crawfort – singing O Luce di quest anima from Linda di Chamounix by Donizetti
Rachel Duval – singing Mi Chiamano Mimi from La bohème by Puccini
Luke van Meveren – singing Bella, siccome un angelo from Don Pasquale by Donizetti
Brooke Larimer – singing Seguidilla from Carmen by Bizet
Blake Burroughs – singing Vecchia zimarra from La bohème by Puccini

Set 2:

Denise – singing Bill from Showboat by Kern & Hammerstein
Rachel – singing I could have danced all Night from My Fair Lady by Lerner & Loewe
Luke – singing C’est Moi from Camelot by Lerner & Loewe
Brooke – singing Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music by Sondheim
Blake – singing Younger than Springtime from South Pacific by Rodgers & Hammerstein

 

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This Evening’s Performers:

Denise Crawfort
Soprano

From stomping through streams and forests,
to climbing mountains, Denise’s early days
were far from glitter and gaiety, but the
bright lights of the big city soon drew her in.
She came down from her cabin in the woods
to explore the sounds of the concrete jungle
accompanied by her beast named Flash.
Together they now take on the world one
park at a time, making their mark across
the city as they go and using their outdoor
skills to survive the wilds of the MTA.

Rachel Duval
Soprano
RachelDuval.com

Rachel, acclaimed heavyweight champion,
has won numerous international lifting
competitions across America. When not
blasting out face melting soprano riffs,
Rachel can be found taking selfies at the
gym in obnoxious lighting.  She is also
the mother of six children: LudVig,
Wolfffie, Giacomo, Giuseppe, Andrew
Floyd Weber, and A-Rod Junior.

Brooke Larimer
Mezzo-Soprano
Brookelarimer.com

Brooke Larimer discovered her singing
talents while tipping a particularly heavy
cow in her home state of Vermont.
Originally a coloratura soprano, she found
that the witchy mezzo roles were a much
better fit for her thinly-veiled rage issues.
During the few brief waking hours that
Brooke is not singing each day, she can
be found sweating it out in Bikram classes,
sipping coconut water while eating yummy
vegan, gluten- and soy-free snacks, or
shopping for environmentally sustainable,
100% hemp ball-gowns for her international
concert tour.

Luke van Meveren
Baritone

Luke van Meveren is a person from
a place. He was last seen eating some
sketchy looking bodega food on the
street corner. Future engagements
include leftover split pea soup, a
shameless seamless order, and some
imminent binge eating of ben and jerry’s
(chubby hubby variety.) If you happened
to have some trail mix or maybe some
beef jerky he would be very appreciative
of the support.

Blake Burroughs
Bass-Baritone

Blake Burroughs is too sexy for his car,
his shirt, his cat, his hat, and this bio.

Blake’s facebook fanpage

Eric Sedgwick
Pianist

Eric may or may not be a secret agent.
Or possibly a superhero.
We’re not sure, but he seems to be able
to be in 9 places at once and we have a
hunch he may have more than two arms.

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Learn more about Opera on Tap:
Hailed as “raucous and sublime” by the New York Sun, Opera on Tap has been bringing opera to the uninitiated in bars and other alternative spaces since 2005. Born in the backroom of Freddy’s Bar in Brooklyn, Opera on Tap has been steadily working on world domination one aria at a time, and now has nineteen national and three international chapters! Find out more at operaontap.org.

Join our mailing list to hear about our upcoming performances or connect to us on Facebook, twitter (@OperaonTapNYC), or Instagram (@OperaonTap).

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Many many thanks to Darren Sussman, Theatermania, Russian Samovar, and the Opera on Tap Board for making this possible!

Der Hӧlle Rache from Die Zauberflӧte 

Hell’s Revenge cooks in my heart,
Death and despair flame about me!
If Sarastro does not through you feel
The pain of death,
Then you will be my daughter nevermore.
Disowned may you be forever,
Abandoned may you be forever,
Destroyed be forever
All the bonds of nature,
If not through you
Sarastro becomes pale! (as death)
Hear, Gods of Revenge,
Hear a mother’s oath!

literal translation by Lea F. Frey

         

Una voce poco fa from Il barbiere di Siviglia     

A voice has just
echoed here into my heart
my heart is already wounded
and it was Lindoro who sent the shot.
Yes, Lindoro will be mine
I’ve sworn it, I will win him.
The tutor will refuse,
I’ll sharpen my mind
finally he’ll accept,
and happy I’ll rest.
Yes, Lindoro will be mine
I’ve sworn it, I will win him.
I’m gentle, respectful
I’m obedient, sweet, loving
I allow myself to be ruled, I allow myself to be guided
But if they touch me where my weakness lies
I’ll be a viper and create a hundred traps,
before giving up I’ll make them fall.

Mi tradi quell’alma ingrate from Don Giovanni

In what excesses, O Heavens,
In what horrible, terrible crimes
The wretch has involved himself!
Ah no! The wrath of Heaven cannot delay,
Justice cannot delay.
I already sense the fatal bolt
Which is falling on his head!
I see the mortal abyss open!…
Unhappy Elvira! what a conflict of feelings
Is born in your breast!
Why these sighs?
And these pains?

That ungrateful soul betrayed me,
O God, how unhappy he made me!
But, though betrayed and abandoned,
I still know pity for him.
When I feel my suffering,
My heart speaks of vengeance;
But when I see the danger he’s in,
My heart beats for him.

Translation by Jane Bishop

 

Una donna a quindici anni from Cosi fan tutte

A woman of 15 years
Must know all the good methods,
Where the devil keeps his tail,
What’s good and what’s bad.
She must know the little malices
That enamor lovers:
To feign laughter, to feign tears,
And invent good reasons.

She must pay attention to a hundred at a time
Speak through her eyes with a thousand
Give hope to all, be they handsome or ugly,
Know how to obfuscate without getting confused
And know how to lie without blushing.
And this queen from her high throne
Can make them obey with, “I can,” and “I want.”
(It seems they like this doctrine,
Long live Despina, who knows how to serve!)

Translation by Naomi Gurt Lind

 

Je veux vivre from Roméo et Juliette  

I want to live
In this dream which intoxicates me
This day still,
Sweet flame,
I keep you in my soul
Like a treasure!
I want to live, etc.
This intoxication of youth
Lasts, alas, only for one day!
Then comes the hour
When one weeps.
Far from the morose winter
Let me, let me slumber
And inhale the rose,
Before plucking its petals.
Ah! – Ah! – Ah!
Sweet flame!
Stay in my soul
Like a sweet treasure
For a long time still.
Ah! – Like a treasure
For a long time still.

Translated by Lea Frey

 

Seguidilla from Carmen

Near the ramparts of Seville
At the place of my friend, Lillas Pastia
I will go to dance the Seguedilla
And to drink Manzanilla.
I will go to the place of my friend, Lillas Pastia.
Yes, but all alone, one gets bored,
And the real pleasures are for two;
So, to keep me company,
I will take away my lover.
My lover, he has gone to the devil,
I put him out yesterday!
My poor heart, very consolable,
My heart is free, like the air!
I have suitors by the dozen,
But, they are not to my taste.
Here it is the weekend;
Who wants to love me? I will love him!
Who wants my soul? It¹s for the taking.
You’re arriving at the right time!
I have hardly the time to wait,
For I shall go with my new lover,
Near the ramparts of Seville
At the place of my friend, Lillas Pastia!

Literal translation by Lea F. Frey

 

Quel guardo il cavaliere from Don Pasquale

“That glance
it pierced the knight’s heart,
he bent on his knees and said:
I am your knight
And in that glance there was
such taste of heaven
that knight Riccardo,
being conquered by love,
swore he would not think
of any other woman”.
Ha, Ha!

I also know the magic virtue
of a glance at the right time in the right place,
I also know how hearts burn
on the slow fire
of a short smile.
I also know the effect
of a deceitful tear,
of an instant languor
I know the thousand means
love-frauds use,
the charms and the easy arts
used to seduce a heart.

I have an odd mind,
I have a ready wit,
I like being witty, joking :
If I get angry
I rarely can remain calm
But I can soon change indignation into laugh,
I have an odd mind,
but an excellent heart, ah!

Translation by Giuseppe Cusmano

 

O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn from Die Zauberflӧte

O tremble not, my dear son.
You are innocent, wise, and pious;
A youth such as you
Must do his best
This deeply troubled
Mother¹s heart to comfort.

To suffer I have been selected,
For my daughter is gone from me;
Through her has all my fortune been lost,
A scoundrel has fled with her.
Still I see her trembling
With fearful shaking,
Her frightened quaking,
Her timid effort.
I had to see her stolen from me,
Ah, help! Ah, Help!
Was all she said.
Alone, in vain was her entreaty,
For my help was too weak.

You, you, you, will go to set her free,
You will the daughter¹s savior be.
And should I see you as victor,
May she be then forever yours.

literal translation by Lea F. Frey

 

Sempre libera from La Traviata

 

How strange! How strange!
I have these words engraved in my heart!
Would a serious love be a misfortune for me?
What’s your decision, oh troubled soul of mine?
No man has set you on fire before
Oh what joy
I didn’t know
being loved, loving!
And could I reject it
out of the barren insanity of my living?

Ah, maybe he’s the one who
often rejoiced painting my soul
alone amid excitements
with his occult colours
How modest and vigilant he
climbed the sad doorsteps
and lit up a new fever
arousing my love!
Such a love that makes
the whole universe palpitate
mysterious and lofty
crucifixion and delight for my heart

Madness! This is a futile delirium!
Poor woman, alone, abandoned
in this crowded desert
that’s called Paris
what do I hope for now on?
What must I do?
Have fun!
Perish in the vortices of pleasure!
Have fun!

I must stay always free
cavorting from joy to joy
I want my living to run
trough paths of pleasure
day in and day out
always happy in hangouts
among always new delights
my thoughts should fly

Translation by Flavio Ferri Benedetti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OOT Philly at L’Etage
7/27/16
7:00 – 8:30 PM
(doors open 6:30 PM)

Whether it’s Elmer Fudd singing, “Kill the Wabbit” (to the tune of Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries”) or Bugs Bunny conducting, “Figaro! Figaro, Figaro, Figaro…!” (from Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville”), everybody knows a little opera!

Come have a drink with us and listen to some of the most famous music in the world, sung by some of the Philadelphia area’s finest singers. You may even see a Viking helmet or two.

Tickets   Facebook   L’Etage