Italian mezzo having U.S. debut here before D.C. role

whitney smith

October 02, 2008 by whitney smith

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Singers at most regional American opera houses study foreign languages and prepare roles for years to disguise the fact that, although they may be playing an Italian character, they're really from New Jersey or Illinois.

That's not an issue for Laura Brioli, who will sing the role of the mysterious Gypsy, Azucena, in Indianapolis Opera's "Il Trovatore" this weekend.

The mezzo-soprano -- making her United States operatic debut tonight -- speaks English, French, Spanish and German. But her mother tongue is Italian, the language of Giuseppe Verdi, who composed the score to the opera that translates as "The Troubador."

Born in the northern-Italian city of Rimini, Brioli now lives in Tuscany with her husband and 5-year-old son.

"All these guys in our casts have sung in Italy," said James Caraher, Indianapolis Opera's artistic director, "but to have a real Italian, as opposed to an American, singing an Italian opera -- that means she is going to understand the inflections and vowel sounds just right."

Brioli said she earned a degree in foreign languages and worked in her family hotel before completing her vocal studies. Since then, she has performed in most Western European countries and in Israel.

She has performed Italian operas also in many of Italy's opera houses, including "Rigoletto" in Naples, "La Traviata" in Florence, "I Puritani" in Bologna and "The Barber of Seville" in Livorno, where she and her family reside.

One of Brioli's most prominent roles is the seductive title character in "Carmen," which she will sing at Washington National Opera in November. She will alternate in the role with Denyce Graves, one of the leading U.S. mezzos.

But Brioli is no less passionate about Azucena.

"It's a fabulous character," she said. "This woman has experienced trauma, and her mother has asked her to avenge (the family).

"The terrible story is that she does take revenge and kidnaps the son of the count, but in a moment of madness, she kills her own son. That thought is always on her mind."

Brioli is only beginning to learn what it's like to sing opera in the U.S., but she loves singing in her homeland, the nation where opera was born during the 1600s.

"The theaters are so beautiful, and opera is so much a tradition. In Italy, 'La Premiere' is such an emotional thing. Everybody comes, then people talk. There's a lot of pressure, because Italy is so little, everybody knows if it's going well, or not."

Il Trovatore

What: An opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi. Sung in Italian with English surtitles. With the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

When: 8 p.m. October 3rd, 2 p.m. Sunday.

Location: Clowes Hall, 4600 Sunset Ave.

Tickets: $30-$115, $28-$109 for students and seniors.

Info: (317) 283-3470, www.indyopera.org

Forum: Music

Tags: 

opera, Il Trovatore, italian

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