Center Stage Opera, which is continuing its efforts to bring top level opera to the North Valley, delivered an exquisite performance of Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor at Temple Ahavat Shalom in Northridge in October. The Italian opera about doomed lovers in the eighteenth century was beautifully rendered on stage, with dynamic, controlled voices and accurate, lavish costumes.
In the title role, Shira Renee Thomas gave a beautiful performance of a young woman torn from her lover and driven to madness. Her voice was clear, beautiful, and strong, and, while some performers tend to overact the "madness" scene, she gave a subtle, yet pwerful and brilliant rendition.
Franz Stary and Abdiel Gonzalez gave equally excellent performances of Edgardo, Lucia's lover, and Enrico, Lucia's brother who drives the lovers apart. Gonzalez's superb, powerful voice commanded the stage, and Stary's excellent performance lent a sense of pathos to the opera.
Stage Director and Set Designer Dylan F. Thomas, the star's husband, created a very comfortable stage design, that highlighted the extremely talented Center Stage Opera Orchestra, led by Conductor and Music Director, Brian Onderdonk, surrounding the stage. Meanwhile, during the opera, subtitles were projected crisply onto the wall above the stage. Designed by Robyn Taylor, the costumes transported the viewer to eighteenth century Italy; especially beautiful was a sparkling gold waistcoat worn by Lucia's bridegroom.
Only the third performance by this newly formed group, Center Stage Opera shows extreme promise and talent on a par with performances that take place at the Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles. Now, there is a hometown source in the North Valley for excellent, professional opera.
Center Stage Opera's next season events include a symphony concert of arias and ensembles, and a performance of Mozart's Cosi fan tutte. Visit their website, www.centerstageopera.org, for more information.