‘Tales Of Hoffman’ Top-Quality Opera

Opera, that consummate blending of art forms, is very alive and doing quite well in the current Uptown Opera production of “Tales of Hoffmann.”

The Sunday (Sept. 10), matinee was a superb performance, featuring the Silver Cast.

The tasteful orchestra reduction by Stefan Kozinski showed excellent balance and texture, nicely portraying the variety of musical moods.

Randi Von Ellefson directed a sensitive accompaniment where the orchestra had a highly enjoyable blend, tonal quality and ensemble support to the vocal cast.

In the vocal cast, the blending of voices in the men’s chorus’ selections was particularly notable.

Appearing in all five sections of the show, Gary Aldrich, the consummate professional, displayed several reinventions of character, demonstrating his extraordinary vocal ability and stage performance.

Also carrying their roles in noteworthy form were tenor Donald Mueller, mezzo-soprano Jessica Bowers and soprano Jennifer Jackson.

Heather Steckler, a Spokane native and the 1995 Vocal Young Artist for the Spokane Music and Allied Arts Festival, sparkled in three character portrayals.

As Olympia, the mechanical doll, she showed noticeable control in the rigid postures required to bring out the robotic gestures necessary.

This characterization in no way diminished the scintillating coloratura which is a hallmark of this part.

As Antonia, Heather Steckler’s characterization of a consumption-stricken young lady is touching and was done with amazing contrast and feeling.

Torn between singing and dying, her desire to sing exceeds her fear of death.

Heather’s marvelous performance points to her promise and potential, in her developing years, that are sure to carry her to continually greater achievements in an international career.

Highest accolades to Marjory Halvorson and Bill Graham for another winning production.

Also, congratulations to the behind-the-scenes crew and staff, without whom the show would not have gone on as well as it did. Wendell Smith Coordinator/Artistic Music Studios