As the cast and crew of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” prepare for their final performance at the Soo Theatre today at 3pm, their production is not quite finished for this season. The orchestra, cast and crew will all be heading to Mackinac Island to present a concert version of the opera on Tuesday, August 11th at 5 o’clock in the evening at the Grand Hotel Theatre.
The concert version of the opera will present the most well-known pieces of the opera, such as the arias and ensembles, but without scenery and costumes. Much of the dialogue from the full Sault Ste. Marie production will be deleted, but enough will be retained to link the story together for the audience. It will be a special treat for the singers and orchestra members to be able to take an opera to the Island for the first time, presenting these world-class voices to a new audience.
Artistic Director, Karen Hughes Beacom, has been working throughout the winter with tenor and castmate Glenn Seven Allen, who calls Mackinac Island his summer home. Allen, an active singer and performer based out of New York City, returns to Mackinac every summer to visit his family home on the island. He and Beacom met at Little Stone Church several years ago and since then the pair have done a great deal of long distance communication, which has finally allowed them to team up to bring opera to the island.
“It’s been about two years in the making,” says Beacom. “We are so grateful for the connections that are being made on the island and we look forward to bringing opera to the island every season.” Beacom, who also serves as Music Director at the Little Stone Church, is developing her own deep ties to the artistic community on the Island, and is excited to be able to bridge the various arts communities in the region.
It will be an adventure for the orchestra too, as they pack up their instruments and music stands, which will then travel by horse cart to the Grand Hotel. This engagement provides a great opportunity to make some wonderful music while enjoying the splendor of this unique place that is so close to home. For many singers and instrumentalists who have come from Chicago and other parts of the country, it will be an opportunity to experience Mackinac for the first time.
Tickets are available at the door or in person at the Grand Hotel and through the Mackinac Island Community Foundation. The Soo Opera is proud to be partnering with the Community Foundation for this special performance. The proceeds from this event will go to The Art Fund sponsored by MICF.
