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Sarasota Opera rounds out season with ‘Attila’ By KLINT LOWRY ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR
While Sarasota Opera is widely regarded as one of the nation’s best opera companies, closer to home it is appreciated for some specific characteristics. For one, their seasons include both popular titles and other less-known works that deserve attention. Second, every season will included something by Verdi. Coming up in their 2022 Winter Opera Festival is an opera that fits both categories, Giuseppi Verdi’s “Attila,” opening March 12 with the first of five performances. For those not well-versed in opera, it may be surprising that one of the all-time great operatic composers wrote an opera about Attila the Hun. The opera is set in the mid-fifth century, as the legendary, aging ruler of the Huns is approaching Rome, only to have this final campaign tripped up by a woman. While it isn’t one of Verdi’s most well-known operas, it is an interesting work for Verdi fans and opera lovers in general as well as for those who delve in to opera less frequently, explained Victor DeRenzi, who is in his 40th season as Sarasota Opera artistic director and principal conductor. Among the nearly 200 productions he has led, in 2016 DeRenzi became the first and to date only conductor to have completed the “Verdi Cycle,” performing the entire canon of Verdi’s work. It took 28 seasons to accomplish the feat. A year before completing the cycle, DeRenzi was made a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy by the Italian Republic for promoting Italian culture beyond Italy. Suffice it to say, the man knows his Verdi. DeRenzi explained what makes the composer an interesting subject. Verdi “was a very good composer who, through very hard work, turned into a great
years was a renowned author and vocal coach. “I learned so much about singing from him,” Kim said. “He gave me everything, not only the singing skills but the knowledge about the life.” Having worked on dozens of productions since the first “Attila,” it helps that Kim and DeRenzi approach opera similarly. “Opera doesn’t exist other than in its performance,” DeRenzi said. “You need PHOTO PROVIDED BY GIOVANNI LUNARDI someone to take that work from the page and perform it for you Victor DeRenzi is in his 40th in the theater.” season ad musical director At Sarasota Opera, DeRenzi PHOTO PROVIDED BY SARASOTA OPERA and principal conductor of the said, the approach is to present Sarasota Opera. Young Bok Kim plays the title role in Sarasota Opera’s operas a they were intended to production of Giuseppi Verdi’s “Attila.” be performed “without leaving dust on them.” The fact that composer,” DeRenzi said. they are a group of performers ‘Attila’ “There’s a long trajectory to means there will always be a his career. Rarely do you have a degree of individuality in their March 12, 15, 17, 20 and 22 at composer who’s written over a production. Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. 60-year period.” Kim said that for him, the Pineapple St., Sarasota. For “Attila” was written fairly first step in taking on a role is tickets, visit sarasotaopera. early in Verdi’s career. He’d alto study the words, to internalorg or call 941-328-1300. ready made a name for himself, ize the character and the story. particularly after the success “It’s all about communicating of “Nabucco,” which debuted with the audience,” he said. “I This is the second time at La Scala in Milan four years Sarasota Opera has presented sometimes think of myself as earlier. Verdi could have stayed “Attila.” The first was in 2007. the tool between composer and right there in Milan where he audience.” Then as now, DeRenzi has the PHOTO PROVIDED BY ROD MILLINGTON was the toast of the town, but With opera, it’s the voice that luxury of having Young Bok he continually challenged him- Kim in the company to play the Young Bok Kim says that in his comes first,” Kim said. The self, writing for new audiences title role. 18 years with Sarasota Opera, movement, the physicality of in new cities, DeRenzi said. the role will come naturally. “He’s a wonderful artist and he has never given less than Though ostensibly about Speaking of natural physicalhe has a lot of fans,” DeRenzi his best, on stage and off. a historical figure, when ity, Attila may seem like a role said. He is grateful for the appre“Attila” premiered in Venice tailor made for Kim, physically In his 18 years with Sarasota ciation he has received from in 1846, it was a contemporary and vocally. It’s true there Opera, Kim’s resonant bass colleagues and audiences. socio-political statement. Italy aren’t many roles in opera voice has made him a crowd would not be a unified country at a university. that specifically call for Asian favorite. Kim is thankful for for another 25 years, but there While he was doing that, he men, he said. But he knew the appreciation and support was a growing sense of identity he’s had in Sarasota. Neither met two legendary New York that going in, and it has never and resentment about outside the city nor the Sarasota Opera opera instructors. The first was hindered his career. The opera forces interfering or controlling had been on his visible horizon Beverley Peck Johnson, who world, he’s found, shares his Italian territories. perspective. when he came to America from had been at the Julliard Opera “In ‘Attila,’ Verdi unites the Center for 40 years when Kim “In opera, it is the voice,” he Seoul, South Korea. In fact, he cause of the Italian people met her. said. Then he added, “This time had no plans to be a singer at against oppression and con“She encouraged me from they are saving a lot of money all. trolling their own destinies,” time to time, ‘why don’t you on the makeup. “I wanted to be a music DeRenzi said. Though the opera professor,” Kim said. He went become a singer?’” Kim said. “When you close your eyes it was very much of its time, Eventually, he enrolled in doesn’t really matter. What is to New York to study at the he added, the sentiments it classes at Julliard. heard is not from the skin, it is Mannes College of Music. The conveys remain relevant and Then Kim met Cornelius what comes from the heart.” plan was to was to go back to relatable today. Korea with a PhD and get a job Reid, who for more than 70