The Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society, known for its world class productions of the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, presented its Second Stage production of Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, the third offering of the Hans Wolf Memorial Operetta series established by the Society in 2007.
Die Fledermaus was presented in English and ran for three performances only Feb. 6-7 and 9 at Town Hall in Seattle. The singing, sets, and costumes were up to their usual high standards.
The top-notch cast was headed by Karen Burlingame (featured in their 2007 Merry Widow), Charles Robert Stephens (Merry Widow), Jon Palmason, Jenny Shotwell, Cliff Watson, Gino Lucchetti, Richard Hodsdon, Rachel Olson, and Dave Ross (as the Jailer).
The plot involves the philandering of von Eisenstein who cheats on his wife Rosalinde. Prior to serving a brief jail term for insulting a public official, Eisenstein attends Prince Orlofsky's grand party. There he woos a glamorous Hungarian countess, who turns out to be (you guessed it) his wife, Rosalinde, who gets her revenge for her husband's indiscretions.
The outstanding artistic group included Chris Nardine, director and choreographer, Glenda Williams, music director, Nathan Rodda, set designer, and Carl Bronsdon costume designer.
Wolf, who died in 2005, was a long time friend of the Seattle G&S Society. He took great delight in bringing the operettas by Kalman, Offenbach, Strauss, Sousa, and Lehar to Seattle audiences. The Second Stage productions are supported by a generous grant from Wolf's sister, Elsbeth Pfeiffer.
Hans Wolf known as Mr. Music had a long career dedicated to the arts and music. His passion for music started at the University of Vienna where he studied under the famous Heinrich Schhenkar. He received his Ph D. in 1937. He came to the US in 1938. He took a break from his musical career in 1943 when he joined the US Army as a translator. He was commissioned in 1945 as a Captain and spent 5 years in Vienna with special services presenting operas as entertainment for the servicemen, returning to the US in 1950. He continued his musical career with TV and recording companies in LA. He was invited to Seattle in 1969 by Glen Ross and Henry Holt. He became associate conductor and chorus master endearing himself to many opera enthusiasts by presenting previews for the Opera Guild, including several on Queen Anne and even one at my house. After 12 years with Seattle Opera, he left to restart the Tacoma Opera where he served as artistic director and conductor for 15 years.
In 1996 he left Tacoma to create the community outreach to benefit young musicians and expand the public's awareness of operetta. For ten consecutive seasons, community outreach has produced some of the world's greatest operatic treasures to Seattle and Tacoma audiences.
In 2003 he received special citations from, Seattle Mayor, Washington Governor and Beverly Sills.
More information is available at the Society's website www.pattersong.org Town Hall is located at 1119 8th Avenue at Seneca Street, Seattle.
Die Fledermaus is a continuation of the memorial operettas produced by The Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society honoring Hans Wolf, former Chorus Master and Associate Conductor of the Seattle Opera. Wolf, who died in 2005, was a long time friend of the Seattle G&S Society. "Hans took great delight in bringing the operettas by Kalman, Offenbach, Strauss, Sousa, and Lehar to Seattle audiences," said Palmason. The Second Stage productions are supported by a generous grant from Wolf's sister, Elsbeth Pfeiffer who died in 2008.
The Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to performing the works of Gilbert & Sullivan and others to the highest artistic standards. Their annual summer show will be Utopia, Limited, opening July 10, 2009 at the Bagley Wright Theatre at Seattle Center.
If you missed this show be sure and see Utopia, Limited.
TTFN Long live Gilbert and Sullivan.
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