Opera Southwest brings 'Mefistofele' to the stage New Year's Eve

Dec. 25—Opera Southwest is bringing "Mefistofele" to New Year's Eve.

Composer Arrigo Boito's 1868 opera will be the concert centerpiece of the Sunday, Dec. 31, performance at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

Now a holiday tradition, this year's show has expanded to include not only the Opera Southwest Orchestra, four singers, the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and a children's chorus.

"The first year, we had two singers, a piano and two violins," said Anthony Barrese, OSW artistic director/conductor.

"The youth players get to sit next to their teacher," said Barrese. "They don't get to play much opera."

The show will feature the entire prologue from "Mefistofele."

A heavenly choir praises the Lord; Mefistofele appears and mockingly addresses God, apologizing for his lack of a halo. He complains that God's worthy creation, man, has become so degenerate that he is not worth tempting anymore. A mystical choir asks him if he knows Faust. Mefistofele does indeed, and wagers to trap the aging, fanatical scholar. Mefistofele boasts to the creator that, by ensnaring Faust, he will finally triumph over God. The scene ends with a hymn of praise to the Master of the Heavens.

"It's based on Faust," Barrese said. "It's a dialogue between Mefistofele and God. You can see Mefistofele has nothing but contempt for humanity.

"Mefistofele has a big aria when he's talking to God," Barrese continued. "Then the choirs of angels respond to him. It's the loudest thing you're ever going to hear. Ideally, the theater should be shaking by the end."

The performance will include four singers: mezzo-soprano Claudia Chapa, who sang Ortrud in OSW's "Lohengrin" in 2019 and also appeared in "William Tell" in 2017.

Soprano Michelle Johnson sang in OSW's "Turandot" in 2022.

Bass singer Zaikuan Song also appeared as Timur in the opera's production of "Turandot."

Tenor David Walton sang in OSW's "La Scala di Seta" in 2021.

The singers will perform arias from Puccini, Rossini, Mozart and Strauss, said Barrese.

"When you add the orchestra, you get more people here," he said. "When you add the Youth Symphony, you get more parents here. We hope we'll get more parents with the children's chorus."

The young players integrate with the orchestra within two days, he added.

"We've played some really complicated stuff with them. It's a great opportunity for them."

Afterward, opera lovers are invited to dinner at the NHCC restaurant La Fonda del Bosque, with tickets sold separately.