Mid-Ohio Civic Opera to perform Beethoven in 4 cities on upcoming tour

Mark Caudill, Mansfield News Journal
·3 min read

People may be surprised to learn that classical composer Beethoven wrote an opera.

Mid-Ohio Civic Opera will provide the education with four upcoming performances of "Fidelio" in Mansfield, Wooster, Ashland and Marion.

"I have always loved Beethoven's music. I've been a soloist on his symphonies," said Joel Vega, artistic director for Mid-Ohio Civic Opera.

Joel Vega
Joel Vega

Vega also wanted his company to do a tour this summer. He calls the music of "Fidelio" both epic and accessible.

The opera is inspired by a true story from the French Revolution. It centers on a woman, Leonora, whose husband Florestan has been secretly imprisoned by his political rival, the villainous Don Pizarro.

Leonora disguises herself as a man

Determined to rescue him, Lenora disguises herself as a man named Fidelio and gets a job in the prison where he is being held.

On the orders of Pizarro, a jailer named Rocco is slowly starving Florestan to death. When news breaks that a government official named Don Fernando is coming to investigate rumors of cruelty in the prison, Pizarro decides to speed things up and execute Florestan himself.

The question is whether Leonora be able to act in time to save him.

"When it came out, rescue dramas were popular, damsels in distress," Vega said. "This takes that and turns it on its head. The man is in distress."

Beethoven 'labored and labored' over his opera

Vega said Beethoven, who also wrote nine symphonies, took a long time to write "Fidelio."

"He labored and labored over it," Vega said.

Eight singers will make up the local cast. In addition, there will be a conductor, pianist and community chorus.

Vega is especially excited about Dylan Davis, a Marion Harding graduate who has sung with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Brandon Dixon, a 2019 Mansfield Senior graduate, will perform his first solo in "Fidelio."

The cast includes Daniel Juarez as Florestan. He is from Connecticut. Corey Lovelace, from North Carolina, will portray Leonora/Fidelio.

Andrew Potter, a familiar name to local opera fans, will handle the role of Don Pizarro, and Heidi Kirschenheiter-Vega will play Marzelline, the jailer's daughter who falls in love in Fidelio.

Also in the cast are Joseph Trumbo and Dalton Derr.

Paul and Sophia Pavlenko Chandley, two more frequent performers with the local company, will be the conductor and pianist, respectively.

"Fidelio" will be sung in German. There will be subtitles, and Mark Jordan will provide narration.

As usual with Mid-Ohio Civic Opera, there is no charge, though donations will be accepted. Vega said patrons do not have to dress up and can come as they are.

Here are the dates and times of the performances:

  • 7 p.m. June 23 at Grace Episcopal Church in Mansfield.

  • 3 p.m. June 25 at Zion Lutheran Church in Wooster.

  • 7 p.m. June 30 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ashland.

  • 3 p.m. July 2 at Epworth United Methodist Church in Marion.

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MarkCau32059251

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Beethoven opera coming to Mansfield, Wooster, Ashland and Marion