Toronto Operetta Theatre’s The Student Prince. Sunday, December 27, 2015, at the Jane Mallett Theatre. On through January 3rd. www.torontooperetta.com
I’ve always had a soft spot for Sigmund Romberg’s The Student Prince, because it’s my earliest memory of seeing an opera. Okay, this is a qualified statement. First of all, it wasn’t live but a Hollywood movie, with Ann Blyth as Kathie; Edmund Purdom was Prince Karl Franz, lip-syncing to the voice of Mario Lanza. I think I was all of seven when my mom took me to see it when the movie came out. And of course, it’s an operetta, not a “true” opera, but what the heck – I was hooked!
I’ve been going to Europe, particularly Germany, for nearly forty years now, but strangely I’ve never managed to catch this piece there, either in the opera house or in the various smaller theatres where they do “lighter” works. One is much more likely to encounter it in North America. Perhaps it’s isn’t so strange given that Sigmund Romberg, despite his Austro-Hungarian Jewish background, was really an American Broadway composer. In addition to The Student Prince, he also penned The New Moon and The Desert Song, both big hits from the 1920’s. Once in a while, you’ll find Student Prince in summer music festivals Stateside, or revived on Broadway. Or, if you are a fan of the Toronto Operetta Theatre, you would have encountered it back in 2001, with tenor Stuart Howe as the Prince. This time around, it’s tenor Ernesto Ramirez in the title role and soprano Jennifer Taverner as Kathie.
Premiered in 1924, The Student Prince is the archetypal operetta with one exception – it has a sad ending. Prince Karl Franz doesn’t marry his love interest Kathie, the beautiful waitress at Heidelberg’s Inn of the Three Golden Apples. He bows to his princely duty and marries his betrothed, Princess Margaret. That said, this piece has all the important ingredients of a successful operetta – an inspired score chockful with catchy tunes, buffo characters aplenty and oodles of fun and frolic in improbable situations. This revival benefits from a very strong cast, led by Mexican-Canadian tenor Ernesto Ramirez. He rose to prominence two years ago as Roberto Devereux at the COC when the originally scheduled tenor cancelled. This afternoon, he sang with warm, ringing tone in a challenging role that has a very wide range, going very low and very high. He was perfectly partnered by the beautiful Kathie of soprano Jennifer Taverner, who sang with gleaming tone and charming stage presence.
The supporting roles were all very well taken, with baritone Sean Curran a standout as Lutz, the Prince’s valet. Also excellent was bass-baritone Curtis Sullivan, a regular with Opera Atelier, as Dr Engel. Members of the TOT Ensemble (Jordan Baldwin, AustinLarusson, Stuart Graham and others) assumed solo roles with distinction, led by Stefan Fehr as Count Detlef. Carrie Parks was a formidable Grand Duchess, and Katerina Utochkina a coquettish Gretchen. COC conductor Derek Bate led the small orchestra with a sure hand – I have to say it’s impressive that the tiny 12-member orchestra could have produced such a full yet nuanced sound.
TOT Artistic Director Guillermo Silva-Marin’s staging was appropriately conventional and middle-of-the-road, frankly, a refreshing change from some of the bizarre directorial touches TO audiences have been exposed to lately. It’s customary for Silva-Marin to inject a funny comment or two on current events in the dialogue. This time around, he showed uncommon restraint – I noticed only a brief mention of “a new prime minister in Canada” and nothing else. The handsome set was generic but beautiful, the blocking efficient on the tiny Jane Mallett stage. The “vision scene” with the singers and chorus at the back of the auditorium was a good solution given the tight performing space.
All in all, it was one of the best things from TOT in recent memory and well worth attending if you are looking for enjoyable Holiday Season entertainment. Additional performances on Dec. 28, 31, Jan. 2, 3. The New Year’s Eve Gala has an optional package of dinner and party.
For more information, go to www.torontooperatta.com.
#LUDWIGVAN
Want more updates on Toronto-centric classical music news and review before anyone else finds out? Get our exclusive newsletter here and follow us on Facebook for all the latest.
- SCRUTINY | Opera Atelier’s All Is Love Makes Triumphal Return - April 15, 2024
- SCRUTINY | From The Heart: Ema Nikolovska And Charles Richard-Hamelin Offer Unique Program At Koerner Hall - March 26, 2024
- SCRUTINY | The Glenn Gould School Spring Opera Presents A Superb Dialogues Des Carmélites - March 22, 2024
