July 30, 2025

I’m finding very few people are familiar with the Spanish composer Manuel da Falla’s opera La Vide Breve. In fact no one to whom I have spoken about it in the last few weeks has known the work, except one who sang it years ago.
 
I would encourage the opera world address this deficit by putting this work on stage, as we did here at CHQ Monday night. It is a powerful and engaging work dramatically and musically. Another plus, it’s only 70 minutes long!
 
The whole cast was wonderful. There were too many special moments to mention them all, but I’d like to give a shout out to some of the principals in the cast. Sarah Zieba and Christine Powell-Thomas were wonderful as Salud and her aunt. Luis Vega-Torres stole the scene as the wedding singer, including showing of his flamenco guitar skills. Reever Juilian brought great gravitas and drama to the role of Salud’s uncle, and Alexander Bonner did a wonderful job as a last minute replacement in the role of Paco, the two-faced loved of Salud. Also in the last-minute stand-in department, CHQ voice faculty member Dominic Armstrong was riveting as the Voice from the Forge. Our guest stage director, Emma Griffin worked miracles on the shoe-string budget creating an entire world out of nothing but four chairs as set and props.
 
The players of the MSFO dove into this colorful score with great artistry and all the passion it required. It was a thrill to be a part of it all.

​#chautauquainstitution #musicschoolfestivalorchestra
 
NEXT UP
 
August 7, 2025
 
Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra
Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater
8:15 p.m.

FAURE Suite from Pelleas and Melisande
PROKFIEV Symphony No. 5