The music, however, should be the draw. On the program are highlights from "Lakme" by Leo Delibes, Bizet's "Pearl Fishers," Rameau's "Castor et Pollux" and Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffman." There'll be several scenes from "Faust" -- one French opera that has been produced here in the past -- and Verdi's "Don Carlos." Verdi, of course, was Italian, not French, but he wrote in French for the Paris Opera House, which commissioned "Don Carlos."
Most interesting is a duet and the finale from Francis Poulenc's "Dialogue of the Carmelites," arguably that last great opera written (1957), or at least the last to find a more-or-less secure spot in the standard repertoire. Poulenc was indeed French but wanted "Dialogue" to be performed in the language of any place where it was presented. However, time, technology and convention has pretty well overturned the composer's wishes. Nowadays we hear French and read English translations projected above the stage.
Poulenc, always able to send shivers down listeners' spines, outdid himself in this opera and in this scene in particular. All the main characters really lose their heads every time they sing it.
Guest artists Janinah Burnett and Jamie-Rose Guarrine, sopranos, Yeghishe Manucharyan, tenor, Todd Robinson, baritone will be joined by a number of excellent local singers, including Lisa Willis, Margit Jensen, Nancy Caudill, Elizabeth Moran and Christine Keene.
First Friday rambles
Oct. 1 brought a frenzy of art openings around town, including photos by the late Barry McWayne at Alaska Pacific University, a group show themed on homelessness and shelter at International Gallery of Contemporary Art, the wearable fashion show at 2 Friends, a one-night-only exhibit of gyotaku fish prints by Jerelyn Miyashiro and Linda Warford at the ACVB's visitor's center, Gina Edwards' bike pictures at Snow City Cafe and two different shows featuring ravens at Artique Ltd. and Firefly Arts.
There are comments on at least some of this at adn.com/artsnob. But before press time, I could only get to one exhibit in the First Friday reception rounds -- because it actually opened last week -- "Feelings 2" at Out North (3800 Debarr). Presented in conjunction with the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the show featured "touchable" art pieces that the patrons were invited to inspect with their hands.
Some pieces seemed up to being handled, like Denise Heimel's heavy clay "Exoskeleton" and Lucy Zercher's numerous felt pieces. "Fish Skeleton," another clay piece, by Jannah Atkins, also responded well to fondling, but it was among many heavy pieces that hang on the wall. I only hope that they are securely fixed. Some of the other items didn't feel (or look) like they could take too much poking in the wrong direction.
Some of the pieces also featured text, sort of a throwaway in this kind of show. The touchable art shows I've been to in the past tend to be feasts for the fingers, a series of unusual tactile experiences; but this was less so.
A couple of pieces, however, were more on target. Linda Lucky's transparent bubble-wrap dog, "Sherman," was clearly, ahem, more touchable than viewable. And Terrence van Ettinger's "Ship of Dreams" really nailed the concept. A set of white raised dots on white paper, it was nearly invisible to the eye, but scanning with fingers revealed the shape of a sailing boat.
The gallery is open from noon-6 p.m. Tuesday - Friday and "Feelings 2" will remain up until Oct. 10.
Rosenthal, Spatz among Governor's arts awards recipients
The 2010 recipients of the Governor's Awards for the Arts and Humanities were announced on Tuesday. The awards, sponsored by the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Alaska Humanities Forum and the Office of the Governor, will be presented during a dinner event at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge on Thursday, October 21.
This year's honorees are:
• Sonya Kelliher Combs, Anchorage, Individual Artist Award
• Tom Manning, Juneau, Arts Education Award
• Barry McWayne (posthumous), Fairbanks, Individual Artist Award
• Nome Arts Council, Arts Organization Award
• Gordon Pullar, Anchorage, Humanities Award
• Paul Rosenthal, Juneau, Lifetime Achievement Artist Award
• Bill Schneider, Fairbanks, Humanities Award
• Ron Spatz, Anchorage, Humanities Award
• Martha Lalla Williams, Anchorage, Native Artist Award
Individual biographies of the awardees are posted at adn.com/artsnob.
In related news, Gov. Sean Parnell has appointed Roy Aglionga of Nome to the Alaska State Council on the Arts. Agloinga, chief administrative officer of the Norton Sound Health Corporation, joins board members Benjamin Brown, Theresa John, Aryne Randall and Gail Niebrugge.
Very vocal women needed
The award-winning Alaska Sound Celebration will compete in the Sweet Adelines International women's chorus world championships in Houston, Texas one year from now and, to have a real shot at the title, they need at least 100 singers on the stage.
"The top choruses in the world are all getting bigger" said Karen Leet, who co-directs the (currently) 70-some member Alaska group with Peggy McBride. "To realize our own ambitions of being in the top ten in the world means we have to grow as well."
So they're launching a recruitment campaign on Tuesday, with a free six week course giving women a chance to improve their vocal skills. The "Houston 100" campaign will take place at Wayland Baptist University ,7801 E. 32nd Ave. Registration is advised. Call 566-3987 or e-mail h100@alaskasoundcelebration.org.
Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.