LIFE

‘Pirates of Penzance’ serves up swashbuckling good time

Amy Stumpfl
  • Dean Anthony makes a fine Nashville Opera directing debut, maintaining a brisk pace that capitalizes on the story’s cheeky humor.
  • Baritone Craig Irvin cuts a fine figure as the swaggering Pirate King, and his “Oh, Better Far To Live and Die” sets the tone for the evening.
  • Tenor Christopher Nelson makes a strong impression as dutiful Frederic, and you’d be hard pressed to find a more animated Major General Stanley than baritone Curt Olds.
  • But it is soprano Hanna Brammer who stood out at Tuesday evening’s final dress performance.

Theater review

Spring is in the air, and what better way to celebrate than with Nashville Opera’s bright and breezy production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comedic classic, “The Pirates of Penzance.”

Even the most casual opera fan will recognize the familiar strains of “Tarantara! Tarantara!” and the often-parodied “Major-General’s Song.” First presented at New York City’s Fifth Avenue Theatre in 1879, “Pirates” remains one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s best loved and most often produced operas.

And Nashville Opera offers a particularly lively take on the well-known story of Frederic, an apprentice pirate who, having reached his 21st birthday, is eager to leave his swashbuckling days behind him. But plans of love and an honorable career are soon squashed by the crafty Pirate King, who pulls Frederic back to a life of servitude on a technicality involving the lad’s leap year birth.

Dean Anthony makes a fine Nashville Opera directing debut, maintaining a brisk pace that capitalizes on the story’s cheeky humor. Audiences may recall Anthony’s work as an operatic tenor in several local productions, including “Madame Butterfly” and “Pagliacci.” He clearly has established himself as a gifted stage director, as well.

Baritone Craig Irvin cuts a fine figure as the swaggering Pirate King, and his “Oh, Better Far To Live and Die” sets the tone for the evening. Meanwhile, renowned mezzo-soprano Maria Zifchak — who has appeared at the Metropolitan Opera more than 350 times — is simply marvelous as Frederic’s piratical nursemaid Ruth. Her woeful tale of “When Frederic Was a Little Lad” is truly a highlight.

Tenor Christopher Nelson makes a strong impression as dutiful Frederic, and you’d be hard pressed to find a more animated Major General Stanley than baritone Curt Olds. He delivers the tongue-twisting “I Am the Very Model of the Modern Major-General” with ease, and makes the most of every laugh in Act II’s “Hush, Hush, Not a Word!”

But it is soprano Hanna Brammer who stood out at Tuesday evening’s final dress performance. Brammer’s gorgeous soprano rings out with exceptional clarity in “Poor Wand’ring One.” Don’t miss the opportunity to see this promising young artist in action.

Under the direction of Amy Tate Williams, the Nashville Opera Ensemble plays a host of bumbling pirates and policemen, as well as a “bevy of beautiful maidens.” Dressed to perfection in costumes provided by A.T. Jones & Sons, Inc. (coordinated by Pam Lisenby), and outfitted in Sondra Nottingham’s detailed wigs and make-up, the ensemble shines throughout.

And conductor William Boggs makes a welcome return to Music City, leading the Nashville Opera Orchestra in an exuberant rendition of the well-known score.

Full of catchy melodies and plenty of slapstick humor, “Pirates” provides an entertaining evening for the entire family.

If you go

What: Nashville Opera presents “The Pirates of Penzance” (sung in English with projected English supertitles)

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Saturday. Artistic Director John Hoomes leads the free Opera Insights preview one hour prior to each performance in the theater.

Where: TPAC’s Andrew Jackson Hall, 505 Deaderick St., Nashville

Tickets: starting at $26

Contact:www.nashvilleopera.org or www.tpac.org