June 19, 1997|By Mary Johnson | Mary Johnson,SPECIAL TO THE SUN
The summer concert series in Quiet Waters Park begins Saturday with "Operetta in the Park," a presentation by Annapolis Opera.
The program will feature songs from such works as Victor Herbert's "Naughty Marietta," Jerome Kern's "Showboat," Sigmund Romberg's "The Student Prince," George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess," Rudolf Friml's "The Vagabond King," and Johann Strauss' "Die Fledermaus." Gilbert and Sullivan favorites from "The Pirates of Penzance," "The Mikado" and "H.M.S. Pinafore" are also scheduled.
The featured performers will be:
Thomas Zielinski, who was heard as Belcare in "Elixir of Love" and as Marcello in "La Boheme." He will sing "Old Man River" and other favorites. He has sung leading roles at the Lake George Opera Festival, the National Opera, Natchez Opera Festival and various opera houses in Germany.
Tenor Douglas Bowles, who sang at Annapolis Opera's Gilbert and Sullivan concert in April 1996. One of Baltimore-Washington's busiest tenors, he recently sang Camille in the Victorian Lyric Opera Company's "Merry Widow." Bowles also sings and plays piano with his jazz band, Misbehaving, which specializes in music of the 1920s, '30s and '40s. He will sing "Deep in my Heart, Dear" with Mary Gresock, and "A Tenor, All Singers Above."
Soprano Mary Gresock, who is producer-director of the program. She has appeared as Gianetta in Annapolis Opera's 1995 "Elixir of Love," and in the company's 1996 Gilbert and Sullivan program. She coordinates Annapolis Opera's educational outreach program and also has sung with Baltimore Opera, Washington Opera, and Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia. She will be heard in a number of songs, including "Summertime" from "Porgy and Bess" and "Poor Wandering One" from "The Pirates of Penzance."
Accompanist Victoria Gau, who has served as music director for such Annapolis Opera musicales as the 1996 Gilbert and Sullivan program, and April's "Opera at the Movies" program. She is conductor of the Georgetown Symphony and the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra.
For anyone not familiar with operetta, the evening should provide a pleasant introduction to a more romantic musical time. Those already acquainted may recall the heyday of the operetta when Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald reigned as America's movie sweethearts.
The free concert will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Concert Site at Quiet Waters Park. Guests should bring blankets and/or chairs. For directions to the park and other information, call Quiet Waters at 410-222-1777 or Annapolis Opera at 410-267-8135.
Pub Date: 6/19/97
