Since 1994 , St. Louisans of have had the opportunity to view classical performances at affordable prices at the Union Avenue Opera. Located at the intersection of Delmar and Union Boulevards in the Central West End, the Union Avenue Opera has played host to 14 seasons of opera classics, legions of up-and-coming opera singers and thousands of patrons.
This year, it features several Saint Louis University graduates and employees, performing on a new stage for an ever-expanding audience.
The 2008 summer season began on July 11. It extends into late August and includes performances of Gaetano Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore (“The Elixir of Love”), Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello, and Georges Bizet’s legendary Carmen.
“We plan our season to get a variety of styles and languages,” said Dana Stone, the opera’s administrative director. “Elixir of Love” is a light comedy in Italian. Otello is heavy and dramatic, written at the turn of the century. Carmen is also dramatic and written in French with Spanish tones. It has a guitar, and the Habanera is based on a Spanish folk song.”
Each opera is sung in its original language, primarily French and Italian, with English subtitles provided by the theater.
“This is like watching a foreign film,” says Elise LaBarge, opera performer and SLU graduate.
LaBarge, who completed an internship with the group in 2000, has sung with the group every year. A graduate of SLU, and of Washington University in St. Louis’ master’s program in Opera, she sings in Carmen’s chorus and plays the supporting role of Giannetta in “The Elixir of Love”.
“I started out doing administrative things, working at the box office . I did whatever needed to be done,” says LaBarge. “This summer, I sing and play the role of Gianetta, [who] is kind of the main peasant girl.”
LaBarge is now a professional musician, and the opera’s educational outreach contact during the year.
Program founder and conductor Scott Schoonover has already voiced praise for the season’s opening work, the charming and comedic L’elisir d’amore.
“I think it’s going very well so far,” Schoonover says. “The season opened this weekend to lots of laughter and lots of applause. People really seem to be enjoying what’s happening.”
In 1994, Schoonover wanted to put his Italian conducting degree to work in St. Louis. As a music director at Union Avenue Christian Church, he found a sanctuary for his new company.
Now an independent organization, the Union Avenue Opera is an established venue for both patrons and performers.
“We’re not part of the church . but they were really instrumental in giving us a place to be when we were starting off,” Schoonover says. “Now we’ve invested in the church.”
The company recently financed a $25,000 renovation to the sanctuary, which included stage updates and an orchestra pit.
Schoonover, once a staff accompanist at SLU, founded Union Avenue Opera hoping to provide the St. Louis community with a quality, affordable opera outlet.
Tickets for the operas range from $30 to $52, and season tickets can be had for as little as $85.
Schoonover opened up auditions for key roles to opera stars on the rise from across the country. Though each singer in the 16-member opera chorus lives in or around St. Louis, the leads come from auditions held in New York, California and St. Louis.
Bit players in more established theaters, new stars can use their experience as leads in St. Louis on their resumes.
Several SLU graduates and employees are making names for themselves at the Union Avenue Opera.
Students Meghan Garvin and Ashley Brownlee have secured roles this summer, and SLU professor John Lamb, Ph.D., is the group’s production photographer.
The Union Avenue Opera is located at 733 N. Union Blvd, and can be contacted at (314) 361-2881 and www.unionavenueopera.org.
