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When I walked through the doors of the Musical Arts Center and into the opera Xerxes on February 9, I knew I was going to like it.
I played through all of G. F. Handel’s Flute Sonata in high school for the Indiana State Scholastic Music Association (ISSMA) Solo and Ensemble competition and had fallen in love with them. (I actually wanted to practice, which is incredibly rare. I was a lazy flautist in high school.) His music in general touches more emotions in me than other composers. His music tends to tiptoe through the extremes of emotion; either very playful or very moving.
For a play such as Xerxes, Handel’s music is very effective. Xerxes is a comedy and goes so far as to open with a love aria to a tree. He is poked fun at for it by the beautiful Romilda, with whom he falls in love. From there, the audience is left with a very tangled love triangle (more like love hexagon). Romilda loves Arsamene, brother of Xerxes, who also loves Romilda. Atalanta, sister of Romilda, loves Arsamene. Meanwhile, Amastre, Xerxes betrothed, is being completely ignored by Xerxes for Romilda. All the while, Amore (cupid) does what he can to ensure a happy ending for all involved. The web becomes more and more tangled, with Atalanta weaving lies and Amastre disguising herself to spy on Xerxes.
On top of the already crazy and entertaining story is a fantastic cast. Xerxes is played by a woman, for starters. I saw Amanda Russo perform the part on February 9. Russo played a convincing King Xerxes, despite her small stature. Amore was performed by Chris Linger at the performance I visited. A ballet major, Linger seemed lighter than air in his whimsical movements and dances. I would dare to say he stole the show with his antics and I was highly impressed with his technique. Atalanta, played by Martha Eason at the performance, holds a whole different story.
I want to start this side tale by saying that a very kind couple donated their seats (front row, center) to the box office to be given away because their guests could not attend. The woman at the box office said that the actors would be right in our laps, and they certainly were. An extended stage was built out and around the pit orchestra so that the actors could be closer to the audience. At the end of Act 1, Atalanta sings a song about the ways to win the love of another, first singing about the proper ways and then singing about the deceitful ways. I was in attendance with my boyfriend. At the end of her number, Atalanta laid dramatically on the stage in front of him, pointed to him, and sensually sang to him. When she finished, she winked and blew him a kiss.
I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard at an Opera. My boyfriend held his composure but was visibly surprised when she began to sing and gesture to him in front of the crowded Musical Arts Center. Her outstanding and hilarious performance through the entire Opera is a brilliant example of how your trip to the opera may surprise you, especially at a place like IU with a school like the Jacobs School of Music.
The cast who performed on Feb. 1 and 9 were brilliant and I can’t praise them enough. While you’re at a school like IU, you really have to see a show or two. My boyfriend, who volunteered to go with me but wasn’t completely sure opera was his thing in general, loved the performance. He obviously loved being singled out and serenaded, but he also enjoyed the entire experience. Reading the libretto can be taxing, so I do recommend sitting near the middle of the orchestra level. If you get a chance, catch Akhnaten. It runs Feb. 22 and 23 and March 1 and 2. If it’s half as good as Xerxes, you’re going to love it.