'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' is a mid-autumn opera delight

Andrew Lipian, Maggie Kinabrew, Jonathon Field, Tony Cho and Colin Anderson performed in W-WAC's FYI Opera program.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council hosted its FYI Opera event at Westlake Porter Public Library. Jonathon Field, director of Oberlin Conservatory of Music-Opera Theater, presented opera students Colin Anderson, Maggie Kinabrew and alumnus Andrew Lipian. Tony Cho, music director, accompanied the singers. Mr. Anderson is a bass baritone; Ms. Kinabrew is a soprano; Mr. Lipian is a counter-tenor. 

The three promising singers performed arias from their upcoming production of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," Benjamin Britten’s 20th century opera adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play.

The opera singers sang beautifully while adding feeling to their individual roles without elaborate costumes, props or stage. However, with Jonathon Field’s wonderful description of the scene and characters before each aria, attendees only needed to listen to enjoy this sample of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream."

Always a crowd-pleaser among Porter Library patrons, the FYI Opera series has been presented by the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council, a 501(c)(3) organization founded 35 years ago to promote arts and culture on the west side of Cuyahoga County. All of W-WAC's programs, including FYI Opera, are free and open to the public.

The Westlake-Westshore Arts Council board members meet on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Porter Library. New members are always welcome. For more information on membership and programs, visit www.w-wac.org or call 440-250-5565.

Jeanine Surace

Jeanine is a member of the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council.

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Volume 11, Issue 21, Posted 9:26 AM, 11.05.2019