Having first performed Tamino five years ago as an undergraduate student, it’s been a huge joy to come back to this brilliant score and dust off my Mozart chops. Mozart roles are notoriously challenging for tenors because of the high part of the voice in which the vocal line tends to sit, leaving little room to hide if you’re having a bad day! Singing anything by Mozart is always enjoyable, though, because of all the different emotional shades that color the music and give the singer freedom for nuanced expression in their performance. Tamino’s music in particular has an incredible range which makes it so much fun to sing, from the didactic and silly way he sings to Papageno, to the sweeping vocal lines he delivers while rapturously thinking about his love.
From a theatrical perspective, Tamino can be a surprisingly tricky role to perform. There are so many unanswered questions about this character: where did he come from? Where was he going just before the opera begins and what did he do to make that monster chase him (making for a very dramatic entrance that is never again referenced in the story)? And what kind of sap falls in love at first sight and is willing to risk life and limb over a picture??? All of these questions, mixed in with the fact that Tamino has to be part comic tenor, part hero, part romantic and you have yourself a pretty loaded character for an actor to develop!
Being a part of this production has been a delight. I only knew a few of the other singers going into this show and I’ve been extremely impressed with both the talent and the friendliness I’ve found in this cast. In an opera that relies so heavily on ensemble numbers, the spirit of the “team” really needs to shine through to fully bring the audience into this crazy new world. Anything less than total commitment on the part of the performer just won’t do. I think this production of The Magic Flute is really hitting it home and I can’t wait to see the delight on the audience’s faces when we open on Friday!
Mark Donlin is performing in Mozart's Magic Flute this Friday and Sunday (March 25 & 27) at the Arts Center in Oak Park. http://www.verismooperaclub.com
Mark Donlin is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Master of Music Program where he was seen in “L’Elisire D’Amore” (Nemorino) and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Flute). He’s also performed in the Chicagoland area with The Savoyaires (Cyril in “Princess Ida”) and with the chorus of Music of the Baroque. He has also been heard in Pennsylvania and New York City with The Erie Opera Theatre (Dancairo in “Carmen”), After Dinner Opera (World Premiere of Seymour Barab’s “License to Marry”), and D’Angelo Opera (Tamino in “Die Zauberflote” and the comic tenor roles of “The Tales of Hoffman.”) He’s very excited for the opportunity to be singing with Verismo Opera for the first time.
Everything I've read about this production makes me sadder I can't see it! Having played Tamino once upon a time, I think you 'get' him very well. The one thing Tamino doesn't bring to the table is intelligence - if he had a second thought about anything, he'd pack it all in! A hero, yes, but ensnared and bewitched. I found playing mute during Ach Ich Fuhls to be the toughest challenge, but acting has never been my strong suit.
A small plus - once you do Tamino, you can do Grosvenor in "Patience" as the same character! :-)
It sounds like this will be a kick-ass show: Verismo is a first-class bunch! Break a leg, everybody! (But not like James Taylor.)
Posted by: Stephen Stein | 03/23/2011 at 07:14 PM
Thanks Stephen! We're going to miss you and Samantha at the show.
I didn't realize you sing as well. Mark does an amazing job of tackling Tamino's highs and lows all while being handsome and charming. :-)
Posted by: Yasmeen | 03/24/2011 at 07:34 AM