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Don’t be fooled by Alissa Anderson’s publicity photos and think that the angelic-looking mezzo-soprano can’t be a bit devilish on stage.
Next weekend she assumes the role of the wicked stepmother in a Santa Fe Concert Association production of the opera “Cinderella.”
“My character is not very nice, and I’m going to have a good time with that,” she said.
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If you go WHAT: “Cinderella WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 and Saturday, Jan. 12 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13 WHERE: Scottish Rite Center, 463 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe HOW MUCH: Free and no reservations; first come, first seated. For more information call 505-984-8759 |
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The cast of the family-friendly opera “Cinderella,” being staged by the Santa Fe Concert Association.
To add to the fun, the character of her weak-willed husband is played by her real-life fiancé, Kyle Albertson.
“I met Kyle during my first summer as a Santa Fe Opera apprentice in 2010,” Anderson explained. “He was called to work in the middle of the summer as an understudy for a role in ‘The Tales of Hoffmann.’ I got a job and a husband that summer.”
“Cinderella” is a one-hour show at the Scottish Rite Center in Santa Fe that features eight professional singers and a handful of local children. The kids are part of the association’s EPIK Artist Program, which gives talented young Santa Fe-area performers opportunities to develop their performing skills.
Santa Fe Concert Association artistic director Joseph Illick took the two-plus hour opera, condensed it down to one hour in length and translated it from French into English.
“It’s a fully staged show,” said Illick. “We’re using some of the Scottish Rite’s stage props and costumes made by local designer Anne De May. I’ll be playing the piano. We also have two guest musicians – violinist Richard Rood and cellist Danielle Cho.”
“Cinderella” is the fourth opera that the Santa Fe Concert Association has presented in the month of January. Anderson assumed the role of the mother in the 2011 production of “Hansel and Gretel.”
“It’s wonderful to be able to do opera in Santa Fe in the winter,” Anderson said. “What’s great about these shows is that we also do a number of presentations for schoolchildren. For some of these kids, this is the first live show they’ve seen. It’s fun to watch their reactions. The opera can seem very real to them. Many are mesmerized.”
The role of Cinderella is played by Kate Tombaugh, who was an apprentice at the Santa Fe Opera in 2011. Last January she came to town to perform in the Santa Fe Concert Association’s presentation of “The Magic Flute.” Earlier this year she covered the role of Cinderella at the Madison Opera.
“Our cast is made up of young professional opera singers from around the country who have sung at leading opera houses and in major opera festivals,” said Illick. “They’ve performed at places including the Metropolitan Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, the Fort Worth Opera and the Opera Theatre of St. Louis.”
The seven children in the opera, who are between the ages of 11 and 15, play the chorus roles of spirits, servants and courtiers. “Performing alongside professional opera stars is a highlight of their season,” said Illick.
