The magical musical talents of Mozart have descended onto campus – opera style. Since its composition by Mozart in 1791 “The Magic Flute” opera was performed thousands of times in thousands of different venues – and for the first time Pepperdine is one of them.
Originally written by the great composer in a small house behind a theater in Vienna the opera will now make its way to Smothers’ stage beginning tonight at 7:30 p.m. and ending with its second performance Saturday. Students and faculty alike have been in preparation for the production since the beginning of the fall semester.
Known specifically as a Singspiel – a play with singing – the storyline blends dramatic comedic and romantic elements as it follows the antics of a prince a poper and a few evil doers. This combination made it the first opera of its era to do so according to Professor of Music and Director of “The Magic Flute” Dr. Henry Price – known for his Grammy award winning voice and performance in more than 50 leading opera roles.
“Mozart created it for everyone to love it so its appeal stretches across social classes life situations et cetera Price said. Operas were either very serious or very funny during his time so this was revolutionary. He just wrote it the way life is – it isn’t one or the other.”
The lives portrayed in the play take many turns as they revolve around the main characters: Prince Tamino played by junior Ryan Macgregor and Pamina played by junior Kaley Soderquist.
“It’s very difficult because I play a prince who is taught to be very stoic and astute and in American culture you just don’t walk around with your nose up in the air. We are a very humble culture Macgregor said. Whenever I get confused about how to interpret a scene though [Price] gets into my character and shows me – that’s how I learn best.”
Price is known to take on the personas of all the characters he directs whether they are male or female.
“It’s really fun watching Dr. Price work and try and teach the students how to act while singing. It’s sort of their last hurdle to overcome said visiting Professor of Music and Orchestra Conductor of The Magic Flute” Tony Cason. “It’s a bit different for the orchestra though. First they must learn the notes and then develop the story within them … It’s a really great experience for the players.” Cason came to Pepperdine in 2005 after serving as the deputy commander of the United States Army Band Pershing’s Own.
However this experience comes with a price for those involved. Macgregor confessed to having bitten down his nails because of the stress -at times he wrote papers and studied for tests during his off time backstage. Soderquist said she faces similar academic dilemmas.
“It’s been long hours of hard grueling work followed by late nights concerning my academic life outside the opera
she faces similar academic dilemmas.
It’s been long hours of hard grueling work followed by late nights concerning my academic life outside the opera Soderquist said. However I would not change or take back this experience. It has helped me grow musically and spiritually … I know come curtain call closing night I will be sad to see this production come to an end.”
Growing and inspiring his students’ talents has been Price’s goal ever since he arrived at Pepperdine in 1993 and began expanding the opera department.
The department unlike most other universities allows undergraduate students to participate. This is an element that Price said will only give these student musical careers a boost.
“Our students are trying so hard and many of them have the ability to move onto higher level programs Price said. When the elements come together on opening night and the audience is there it will be a wow moment. That’s when it becomes fun because of everything we have done and how hard we have worked.”
Tickets can be purchased through the Pepperdine Center for the Arts at (310) 506-4522.