While most of us here for the summer are spending our days relaxing on the Green, eating at the Hop or studying in the reserves, a few Dartmouth students are experiencing the professional world of the opera. Not in New York, London or Paris, but right next door in Lebanon, NH. Together with Opera North, these Dartmouth students are participating in the productions of Verdi's "Rigoletto" and Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" through the Young Artist Program.
Louis Burkot, the musical director and conductor of Opera North, is no stranger to Dartmouth himself. Burkot is the director of the Glee Club and a voice instructor for students. With the Glee Club he has conducted operas, ballets and major oratorios, as well as productions with the Drama Department. He has served as the Artistic Director of Opera North since the company's inception, and has conducted 25 productions there so far.
Since 1983, Opera North annually hosts young singers and artists from leading conservatories and universities. This year, they are hosting 19 participants in the program, which includes interns in opera production, scenic design and administration. In mainstage productions, Young Artists perform some principal and secondary roles, sing in the chorus and also serve as understudies, while receiving intensive vocal and dramatic coaching.
Sean Parr '99 is a second year veteran of the Young Artist Program. He and the other Dartmouth students receive voice instruction from Burkot, as well as sing in Dartmouth choral ensembles.
"Opera North has been a perfect outlet for my desire to make music," Parr said. "The exposure to such great singers, great people and the opportunity to sing in a terrific professional opera company in rural New Hampshire is amazing."
"I'm not taking classes this term," Parr said, "although I am balancing my singing time with my four jobs." A career as a professional singer is not a definite for him yet, but it is still a possibility. Parr does, after all, come from a family of professional musicians and spent the Spring term on the Music Foreign Study Program at the Royal College of Music.
Amy Smith '00 got involved in the Young Artist Program because she "wanted to see if this was something I might want to pursue as a career." But the most challenging part for Smith has been balancing her rehearsals with her busy school schedule. "I would be doing opera north stuff for about seven hours a day sometimes," she said. "[That] doesn't leave much time for homework!"
After going on the Music FSP and now the Opera North experience, Smith has only been encouraged to pursue music. "I really thrived on it," she said. "And, for the first time, really started to consider it as a possibility, rather than making the excuse that a performing arts career just isn't practical."
Katie Lachter '00 became involved with Opera North because she wanted to work in a professional setting. But more importantly: "Ever since the Glee Club performed 'The Gondoliers' last winter," she said, "I have been hooked on Gilbert and Sullivan."
"I think watching and listening to the veteran actors has made a big difference for me," Lachter said of her experience. "The way they use their voices and their bodies, the way they completely give themselves over to the drama of the moment has taught me to give more to the audience while I'm on stage."
Jeffrey Walters '00 plays percussion in the orchestra for Opera North, and sees the experience as another outlet to practice in. "Dartmouth doesn't provide as many performing opportunities as I would like," Walters said. "So being involved in Burkot's productions gives me a chance to play more than I would normally be able to."
"I think that Opera North is an ambitious undertaking," Walters said, "that has been successful due to the extremely high standards it sets for itself."
Other Dartmouth students performing at the Opera North who were not interviewed for this article are Steven Fox '00, Ned Holbrook '00, Elizabeth Roberts '00 and Nick Vogt '00.
"Rigoletto" performances have begun, and will run tonight and August 26 and 29. There will also be a special youth matinee performance of Rigoletto on August 27 at 11 a.m.
Performances of "The Pirates of Penzance" are on August 22, 24 and 28 at 8 p.m., and on August 23 at 6:30 p.m. For tickets and further information on all Opera North events, call the Box Office at the Lebanon Opera House at 448-0400.
