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'Siegfried' Bringing Dwarfs, Dragons To Tarpon Stage

New Century Opera To Perform Wagner Work In English

Photo from Gen Haley

Baritone Todd Donovan and soprano Azure Bond are performing in New Century Opera's production of "Siegfried." The Wagner opera is being presented at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center.

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By Cheryl  Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: March 13, 2009

Updated:

Fans of Richard Wagner now have the rare treat of attending a performance of one of the German composer's operas in Northern Pinellas.

"Siegfried," the third of four operas constituting "The Ring of the Nibelung," commonly known as the "Ring" cycle, is now playing at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center.

"These are such wonderful stories, and the music is so beautiful," said Constantine Grame, who is directing the production.

Grame is founder of New Century Opera, a group of opera fans who want to bring opera to the area. New Century has formerly produced the first two operas in the "Ring" cycle.

In "Siegfried," the title character was raised in the forest by Mime, an evil dwarf. Siegfried flees Mime, slays the dragon Fafner and wins a beautiful bride, Brünnhilde, after waking her from an enchanted sleep.

Wagner wrote the "Ring" cycle between 1848 and 1874, combining elements of Norse and Teutonic mythology. All the operas can be enjoyed by themselves or as part of the quartet, Grame noted.

The production of "Siegfried" being presented at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center will be sung in English rather than German. "All the greater composers expected operas to be done in the language of the audience," Grame explained.

Kevin Nickorick will portray Siegfried. Although the baritone has performed in many operas, including the Sunstate Opera's 2005 production of "Madama Butterfly," this will mark Nickorick's first time with New Century Opera.

"He has a strong dramatic voice and compelling presence on stage," Grame said.

Michelle Smith-Sund will play Brunnhilde. Smith-Sund played the same character in last year's production of "Die Walküre," the second opera in the "Ring" cycle, and has been with New Century Opera productions since its founding in 2004. She sang the role of Mother in the company's 2006 production of Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel."

Costumes will bring an added element. Helen Campbell designed them by studying photographs of the original production.

The lowdown

The New Century Opera production of "Siegfried" will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday, March 20, and 2 p.m., Sunday, March 15, and Sunday, March 22. Tickets are $20, general; $18, members; $12, students; and $6, children under 12. They are available at www.tarponarts.org and at 727-942-5605.The Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center is inside City Hall, at 324 Pine St.

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