The Opera Tattler

* Notes *
Opera Parallèle gave a charming performance of Philip Glass’ La Belle et la Bête (pictured, photograph by Cory Weaver) at Cal Performances last night. The piece is based on the film by Jean Cocteau from 1946, and the production included this along with other filmed segments and the performers on stage. The music played and sung with precision and beauty.

Brian Staufenbiel’s production included artful projections by David Murakami. There was one large screen with Cocteau’s film, and five smaller screens arranged above the stage.  The singers were filmed in similar scenes to ones in the film, the style was very much in keeping with Cocteau, heightening the surrealism of the piece. The costumed singers also would come up from the orchestra pit and move and sing from the stage.

The music is played by a small ensemble that includes three keyboardists, two saxophonists, a flute player that also played piccolo, and a percussionist. The music has some very cheery arpeggios and the saxophones sounded sinuous. The synchronization seems difficult to pull off but Maestra Nicole Paiement had the musicians well in hand. Everything sounded clean and precise but with a clear shape and line that is so characteristic of Paiement’s conducting.

The cast only has four singers to cover ten roles. The two baritones have the most work, Aurelien Mangwa sounded clear as Le Père/Ludovic/ L’Usurier and Hadleigh Adams has a warm, flexible sound as La Bête/ Le Prince/ Avenant/L’Officier. His Bête is poignant and sympathetic.

Mezzo-soprano Sophie Delphis has a pure tone, and was suitably arrogant as the sisters Félicie and Adélaïde. There was a filmed part of Delphis that showed her face as the sisters, her various expressions were priceless. Best of all was mezzo-soprano Chea Kang as Belle. She has such a rich and distinctive voice.

* Tattling *
My companion threatened to dress as a piñata to the performance, as I was dressed as a marshmallow. She did not enjoy the characters in the opera and felt that Belle was unintelligent, even saying aloud that “She is so dumb” during the performance, as it was 90 minutes long and performed without an intermission.