The student choral ensemble Opus shared their favorite selections from musical theater with an audience at Falk Theatre Tuesday night.
The sixteen-member group composed of music majors performed a diverse set of songs from various popular musicals.
The event was sponsored by the Department of Music and directed by David Clark Isele.
Mistress of Ceremonies Lisa Leonard opened the show, promising the audience that their ears would “be treated to wonderful sounds.”
Accompanied by virtuoso pianist Beth Waligorski, Opus took the stage with an energetic rendition of “Comedy Tonight” from the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
The enthusiastic demeanor of the performers filled the theatre.
A series of solos and duets followed.
The sparse piano background put students’ voices front and center. “Stud and a Babe,” by Stephen Padgett and Lauren Andersson, portrayed the frustrations of two lovers with low self-esteem.
Padgett’s comedic interpretation of an unattractive man drew guffaws from the audience.
Though the choreography ran smoothly throughout the evening, Padgett admitted after the show that many performances were hastily compiled.
“Most of the duets and solos were last minute,” he said.
Jessie Bergman emerged as the evening’s standout performer.
Clad in a sleek pink dress, she commanded the stage even during group numbers. During the duet “I’ll Never Be in Love Again” with Alexander Crenshaw, she was convincing as the controlling half of a distrustful relationship.
However, Bergman really scored with a solo performance of “The Spark of Creation.”
Given license to shine on her own merit, her powerful voice sounded louder than the entire ensemble combined.
She took over the event with a natural demeanor and Broadway-ready vocals.
Other standouts included David Bevis’s whimsical rendition of “Do You Remember?” from Pan.
Out of context, the song required a disclaimer.
“I am not a child molester in this song,” Bevis said, clearing up any awkward interpretations of lyrics praising youth. “It’s from a new musical based on Peter Pan.”
Surprise guest Justin Lore, a University of Tampa alumni and former Opus member, harmonized with Director David Clark Isele.
Fresh off a stint in New York City theaters, Lore’s masterful performance presented a good role model for the current generation of Opus.
Pointing at the front row towards the attentive Opus group, Lore said, “They’ve all got it.”
Assuring that Beth Waligorski’s selfless, supportive piano accompaniment was not overlooked, Lisa Leonard presented a plaque thanking Waligorski for her longtime service to the UT Music Department.
If there was any hint of stuffiness in the audience as the concert wound down, Meagan Nagy shattered it with an irreverent rendition of “In Short.”
Beginning the song with a deceptive sweetness, Nagy quickly morphed into a malicious persona. “In short,” Nagy sang, “I hope you die.”
Her facial expressions, alternating between an unhinged scorn and a bad-girl grin, were perhaps the evening’s most impressive role-playing portrayal.
But how did she create such candid animosity?
“All my exes,” she said. “I just think of them.” Nagy also expressed frustration from being forced to recite the word “frigging” instead of the song’s uncensored adjective. Maybe this dismay contributed to the performance’s emotion.
Senior Chelsea Bagley was thoroughly impressed by Opus’s performance. “It’s only my second time seeing them,” she said.
“I know about half of the cast. They are all very talented.”
Other members of this semester’s Opus are Bela Aquino, Rhianna Crawford, Sarah Friswell, Ally Hanskutt, Natalie Lopez, Chelsea Wulff, Gordon Bonnett, Amos Leger, Gabe Saienni, and Jordan Stovall.
Upcoming events sponsored by the Music Department include: The Annual Christmas Festival on Dec. 5 at the Sacred Heart Church, Percussion Night on Dec. 8 in the
Music Department, Room 90, and Dances with Winds on Dec. 10 and 11 in Falk Theatre.
Michael Angelo Rumore can be reached at michaelangelorumore@spartans.ut.edu.
Thanks for the kind words 🙂