Newsletter January, 2011

OGDEN OPERA GUILD

EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA!

Symposium, January 9, 2011 will be at 1:30 p.m.

The sunny and lyrical opera, HANSEN AND GRETEL by Englebert Humperdinck, has its roots in a far darker tale, one which originated in the middle ages and was told and retold from genera¬tion to generation.
When they were young men, the Grimm brothers, Jakob and Wilhelm, began the study of literary and cultural documents of the German past. They lis¬tened to the oral traditions told by ordinary folk and published these simple unembellished stories in a collection of”Maerchen” or fairy tales. (1812¬1814) The Grimms became internationally famous and the book was wildly popular. Because of this volume “Little Red Ridding Hood”, “Cinderella”, “Snow White”, “The Sleeping Beauty” and many other fairy t&es were recorded for posterity.
At the root of the Grimms’ version of “Hansel and Gretel’ is the recounting of pure, innocent children caught in horrifying circumstances. Because there is no food in the house, and despite their father’s ineffectual protest, the conniving stepmother sends the children into the forest to die of starvation. They become lost and happen on a gingerbread house which they ravenously begin to dismantle and eat. Hansel and Gretel are captured and imprisonedby the malevolent witch and are being fattened up to be devoured.
The themes of these fairy tales touch on mankind’s universal dread of abandonment, isolation, starva¬tion, witchcraft and, ultimately, cannibalism. People in the middle ages who lived on the edge of the vast European forestwere superstitious and held considerable regard for the dangers which might dwell within.
Good does triumph over evil when clever Gretel tricks the witch into crawling into the oven and closes the door, presumable roasting her. The chil¬dren return home, laden with precious stones stol¬len and then hidden by the witch and find the step¬mother dead.
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When making a reservation, please leave the NAME and PHONE NUMBER of each person attending This is necessary for food prepa¬ration and notification in case of cancellation due to weather, etc

Something a little different will be on tap for our January 9 symposium, to be held in the Holy Fam¬ily Community Room. Be sure to be on hand by 1:30 p.m. for sweets, coffee and hot chocolate. Once comfortably seated, you will be served at your table by students from the Youth Impact Program.
After you’ve savored the dessert and hot beverage, the program will begin at 2:00 p.m. Paula Fowler, Director of Education for the Utah Symphony Utah Opera company will present two Utah Opera En¬semble Artists – John Buffett and Ad Glueckert in a delightful musicalprogram. Agenerousgrantfrom Ogden City allows our guild to present these artists in a program we know you will enjoy.
What a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon in winter … wonderful music, delicious desserts and a hot cup of coffee or cocoa to warm your hands. See you there!
Suzy Patterson, Education Chair

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (continued)

At the end of the nineteenth century, Englebert Humperdinck’s sister, Adelheid Wette, suggested to her brother that he write the music for songs she had developed based on the Grimm’s tale of “Hansel and Gretel . This work eventually turned into a full scale opera, one which is traditionally performed at Christmas with children the intended audience. The first production was held in Weimar in 1893 and was conducted by Richard Strauss.
The story is very sanitized from the Grimms’ ver¬sion and the audience is aware from the beginning that all will live happily ever after”. The children have been sent into the woods to collect berries and their parents, concerned for their safety, are fearful of the witch who dwells there. The forest is not an evil place and the children are protected by Sand¬man and the Dew fairy. Nevertheless Hansel is imprisoned by the witch who does intend to fatten him up, then cook and eat him (no escaping canni¬balism). Gretel (clever girl) tricks the witch into crawling into the oven,, closes the door on her, and the gingerbread children are returned to their nor¬mal live state.
The music in Hansel and Gretel is melodic, and the audience anticipates the triumph of good over evil This is a lovely opera, one to be enjoyed by an audience of all ages.
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From the Ogden Opera Guild, we wish you a joyful holiday season. We look forward to seeing you at the opera, and especially on January 9 at our after¬noon symposium at Holy Family Community Cen¬ter, 1:30 p.m. social hour, 2:00 p.m. performance by the Ensemble, Utah Opera’s Apprentice Artists.
Be sure to reserve with Jackie McCleary (801-776¬6605) or Judy Vander Heide (801-479-8977) and leave a phone number in case we would have to cancel due to weather.

Froehliche Weinachten
Judy Vander Heide, President Ogden Opera Guild

If any of you has access to a time share or recre¬ation lodging which you would be willing to donate for the silent auction, please call June Dougherty (801) 479-7807). A receipt for a tax deduction is available.
June Dougherty
Silent Auction Chair Ogden Opera Guild’s
February 12, 2011

Greetings, by the time you read this newsletter, Christmas will have come and gone and we will be into 2011.

However it is a New Year, and time for the Ogden Opera Guild’s Twenty-third Annual Chocolate Affaire. . It is hard to believe so many years have gone by and every new year seems more adventurous. The money raised from this evening allows the Guild to sponsor the Matinee performance of Utah Opera’s final Opera production of the season. It is a wonder¬ful feeling to think that the Ogden Guild has such strong support from our Guild members and friends.
Once again this year we are fortunate to have this elegant evening at St. Joseph Catholic High School’s Evans Black Box Theatre. We are very grateful to the school for allowing us to use this facility.

The Theme has been selected “An Evening of El¬egance”, invitations are in the printing process and committees are working hard to bring everything together.
If you would like to contribute to the Silent Auction, I know they would be glad to hear from you or if you can help the day of the event, please call the Silent Auction Chair June Dougherty or Kay Lipman (June’s number is 801-479-7807 and Kay is 801-399¬0391). This is a large undertaking and the commit¬tee has been on the prowl all summer looking for enticing auction items.

Please remain until the end of the evening to pay for and take home the items you have purchased. The committee will not be avail¬able on Sunday or responsible for left over items.
Our Food chair, Dyrk Farr, has kindly agreed to this role again. Last year he got his feet wet and now has jumped in with both. He will need help in baking before hand and set up the day of the event. If you would like to help with this please call Dyrk at 801-393-2610 or Betty at 801-771-9460 and they will gladly take your number and follow through. If you would like to bake on your own, we will send you the recipe and quantities to prepare.
In closing we hope you will have a great Holiday and a Happy New Year.
Please call if you have any questions.

Betty J. Symonds, Chair
2011 Chocolate Affaire

On Tuesday, November 23, 2010, the Ogden Opera Guild presented the Utah Opera Resident Artists’ program “Sugar and Spice” in the Garrison Choral Room of the Weber State University’s Browning Center. Students, Faculty, Opera Guild, and community members enjoyed the artistry of five outstanding young artists performing a variety of numbers in a program subtitled “A Musical Celebration of Women.” Four of the five performers understudy leading roles in Utah Opera productions being staged this season; they also perform solo roles with Utah Symphony productions. The four young vocalists include Angela Theis, Soprano; Katherine Tombaugh, mezzo-Soprano; AJ Glueckert, Tenor; and John Buffett, Baritone. They were accompanied by pianist Willem van Schalkwyk, who is with the Utah Opera for his second year and who recently completed his doctoral degree in music from the University of North Texas. The five artists delighted those attending with various interpretations of the theme in such numbers as the “Seguidille” from Bizet’s “Carmen” and Irving Berlin’s “Anything you can do I can do better” from “Annie Get Your gun.” Carol Anderson provided the musical direction of their program, and Tara Faircloth prepared the stage directions. The Ogden Opera Guild wishes to thank RAMP for providing the funding for this program.
Jean Andra Miller

Karen Elkington has served as treasurer for the Ogden Opera Guild for nine years, formerly having filled a term as president of the organization. Her prompt and capable handling of the finances are of supreme importance to the Guild.
Karen has many talents and she is especially passionate about quilting and sewing. She has volunteered her time and energy to sewing at the Utah Opera costume shop as well as having donated her creations to groups as auction items. Karen’s table runners adorn many tables locally. She finds time to volunteer at the Ogden Nature Center and keeps books for several nonprofit organizations.

Karen and her husband Walt, both graduates of the University of California at Berkeley, are dedicated football fans. They are the proud grandparents of five and have a “new” great-granddaughter, Sophia.

Symposia Location:
Holy Family Catholic Church, 1050 E. 5600 S. South Ogden Utah
NEXT SYMPOSIA: Jan. 9, 2011
January 15 HANSEL AND GRETEL Opera Opening
February 12 CU%oeo%tte ca6xe
February 27 LITTLE WOMEN Symposium
March 12 LITTLE WOMEN Opera Opening
May 1 FALSTAFF Symposium
May 14 FALSTAFF Opera Opening

If you do not renew your membership in the Ogden Opera Guild by 31 December,
this is the last issue of our Newsletter you will receive.
Edited by Joan Cline