Sunday, May 29, 2011
West Bay Opera
Dido and Aeneas/La vida breve
“I’m wearing what?!?!”, were my first thoughts as I saw sketches of my Second Witch costume for West Bay Opera’s production of Dido and Aeneas. I think the room spun a bit, too. Luckily, I found out it was simulated nudity before I passed out altogether in the costume shop. Yes, we the Witches and the Sorceress would be portrayed as Minoan Snake Goddesses. Ironically, I had studied the Minoan culture years back, since I happen to love ancient history, and had even bought a replica of the Procession Fresco. But I couldn’t remember the specific attire of the women in the fresco at that very moment, probably because the blood was still rushing to my head. So as soon as I got home I went straight to the piece hanging in my bedroom and, yep, we definitely looked like Minoan priestesses/goddesses.
Abra Berman, the costume designer, had cleverly simulated a bare-breasted costume by attaching flesh colored bras with.....um....perky.......(you can fill in the blank) to our corsets. The effect was pretty stunning; so much so that the first time we all walked out in our costumes, all came to a halting stop! Everyone in the cast and crew was transfixed by our “bras”, especially the men. I remember thinking to myself that women could truly rule the world, if we wanted to. Imagine what would happen if we wore something like that to war? What a collection of unused weapons we would have!
But our costumes were just a microcosm in this daring double-bill. WBO’s General Director and conductor José Luis Moscovich had assembled a terrific cast led by artists such as Cathleen Candia, Zachary Gordin, Shawnette Sulker, Carla López-Speziale and Pedro Betancourt, to name a few. Not only were these great artists, they were also a joy to work with. I especially remember our bonding session during our brush-up rehearsal, something we all needed for reasons which I don’t care to elaborate on. Let’s just say that I never laughed so hard.
This was also my first time working with both José Luis Moscovich and Ragnar Conde, stage director and recent Merola addition. It was wonderful working with these gentlemen, and I was thrilled to be a part of two works that are rarely, if ever, done. Which brings me to something that I do want to expand on.....
Alexandra Mena, Mezzo-Soprano ◊ Copyright © 2007-2012
I’m so thankful to José Luis Moscovich for programming these works, especially during a difficult time for the arts. It was a bold move, to say the least, and so refreshing! I remember seeing the audition notice for this double-bill a year before and not believing my eyes. I told myself that I had to be a part of it, somehow. As an opera buff and a singer, I loved hearing de Falla’s music and being a part of a fully staged Dido, as opposed to the usual concert version. Even though the role of Carmela in La vida breve was small, being in the Second Act, in my beautiful gown and mantilla, with the cantaor, the flamenco guitar (played by Adrian Murillo), the flamenco dancers and the rest of the cast was magic! It brought me back to happier days, in Spain.......
Muchas gracias José Luis!