Muses present opera classics with creativity

Based in Hot Springs, Ark., The Muses Creative Artistry Project presents its "Opera: Classics Plus" program at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14 in Cabe Hall. (Submitted photo)
Based in Hot Springs, Ark., The Muses Creative Artistry Project presents its "Opera: Classics Plus" program at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14 in Cabe Hall. (Submitted photo)

The creative spirits flow with song when The Muses visit the Regional Arts Center and regale the audience with opera and musical theater.

Based in Hot Springs, Ark., The Muses Creative Artistry Project presents its "Opera: Classics Plus" program at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14 in Cabe Hall. It's yet another return trip for The Muses, who last shared a program of Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni" here.

"We've brought a similar type of program," said Deleen Davidson, the troupe's general director and herself a classically-trained soprano.

Because it's an opera cabaret with the "plus" added to the evening's program, we'll hear selections from timeless operas like "Carmen," "La Traviata" and "Madama Butterfly," but also some of the great musical theater repertoire, such as "Les Misérables," "Sweeney Todd" and "Secret Garden" numbers.

photo

NWA Media

STAFF PHOTO SAMANTHA BAKER @NWASAMANTHA Griffin Roton of Prairie Grove hangs on to his inflatable turtle Sunday, July 20, 2014, while going down some rapids at the Siloam Springs Whitewater Recreation Park. Griffin was at the park with his family and dog, Chino, enjoying both the rapids and calm waters.

The program's subtitle is "Sing to Love," taken from "Die Fledermaus," but there's another meaning at work here, too, Davidson explains.

"It also represents the blending of all the different selections," Davidson said, noting there's a basic need as human beings to experience the emotions of love, loss and life, which is reflected in 400 years of musical expression.

"All trying to express this common musical experience in ways that are uncommon," Davidson said. That's the tradition within which The Muses work.

Watching these artists, it goes beyond words with classical music used to express our most common shared passions and experiences, she said. "It touches us uniquely, personally, but also universally," Davidson said, explaining that in opera there's the highest level of technical accomplishment.

"It is a very challenging physical experience," Davidson said. They're essentially singing actors, and the production will have a lot of interaction that brings the audience along. And with these songs, The Muses will connect to the audience in ways they can understand.

"We're bringing four new performers who have not been in Texarkana," Davidson said. Others are returning performers from previous Muses performances here. "Just generally really wonderful young performers performing some amazing music," is how she describes them.

Davidson programs the selections based on the what best suits these particular singers. All opera isn't the same, just as all garments are not suitable for every body type, she said. The Muses usually don't do large operas with huge voices, she explained, and the selections suit the venues where they perform.

It's Davidson's job to weave it all together and make it work, she said.

"This is our fall tour, our fall showcase," Davidson said. The Texarkana stop is one of several they'll have across Arkansas. And for The Muses, their artistry doesn't only include opera. They aim to preserve the classical arts through education, too.

"We want to use that artistic experience as an educational tool," Davidson said.

Toni Spears, company manager and troupe manager, believes in order to engage in that pathos invoked through art The Muses needs "professional artists, professional performers, professional singers." "And we have that," she said, noting New York-based performers for the troupe get together to rehearse before arriving here.

"They come ready," Spears said. They're pros who have diverse skills. High quality music and the staging will engage the audience, she said.

(Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door, $10 for all students. The Regional Arts Center is located at 321 W. 4th St. in Texarkana, Texas. Tickets and more information: Call the Perot Theatre box office at 903-792-4992.)

Upcoming Events