Sounds from the stormy seas of Richard Wagner's opera The Flying Dutchman opened last night's Toledo Opera gala at the Peristyle. Either the programming was prophetic or such is the power of Wagner. The concert began nearly 30 minutes late as musicians battling winter weather slowly arrived from points north.
Little matter, the lateness. This was one of the most enjoyable opera gala programs of the past decade. Conductor and emcee Thomas Conlin assembled a super-sized orchestra, a fine chorus made up of opera regulars and the University of Toledo Concert Chorale, and young soprano Erin Wood, who dazzled.
The evening was dedicated completely to Wagner's music and included selections from six operas. You did not need to be an opera buff to recognize almost all of it.
The rich-toned and melodious Wood gave emotionally charged and seemingly effortless readings of selections from The Valkyrie. She was equally comfortable later in the program as Isolde when she delivered a transcendent performance of the famous "Liebestod" that ends Tristan and Isolde, the opera that changed the course of Western music.
Fine as well was the choir, which was divided for the folksy choruses from The Flying Dutchman, then united and nicely balanced for Tannhauser's "Chorus of the Pilgrims" and other works.
Midway through the program the ever-conversational Conlin, who apparently would be perfectly at home hosting a late-night television talk show, got serious and made a plea in support of education in the fine arts. In a sense, he was simply stating what the music was already saying. The entire program came off as a sonic slide show demonstrating the importance of cultural heritage. Melody after melody - from the nobly paced "Wedding March" from Lohengrin to the terrifying war sounds of "The Ride of the Valkyries"- one heard strings of examples of the ways in which the everyday culture of the present sits comfortably on the strong shoulders of the past.Great ideas provide the air that future generations breathe. Who among us today will speak to our grandchildren's grandchildren the way Wagner still speaks to us? And what can we do to nurture those voices? Conlin is asking the right questions.
Contact Steven Cornelius at: scornelius@theblade.com or 419-724-6152.
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