Friday, November 8, 1996
OPERA:
Michael Hampe directs scenes from famous opera at UCLABy Nerissa
Pacio
Daily Bruin Contributor
With a bellowing voice, arms tossed up in the air, and a hand
pressed against a forehead of silverish hair, world-renowned opera
director Michael Hampe takes command of the stage as he
passionately directs his student performers.
"Search more in yourself!" he exclaims to one of his singers as
his voice reverberates throughout the Jan Popper Theater in
Schoenberg Hall. He is preparing them for "The Marriage of Figaro,"
which they will perform Sunday. "We all have to start imagining.
Imagine that chair is a bush. That’s how we work in the theater.
It’s all about fantasy," he says.
Hampe does not direct from a seat far from the stage, nor does
he give directions from the wings. Hampe is on stage, in the midst
of the opera singers whose swirling voices combine into melodious
chords. He stands amid the action, ready to evoke emotion from his
performers. "This is what you do. Imagine singing during a
wonderful, hot night in southern Spain," he says leaning over a
chair with an upturned head.
Born into a family of musicians, and having written his own
musical pieces at 10 years old, it is no wonder Hampe’s love for
music and opera bring him to teach all over the world. He decided
to direct the UCLA production of "The Marriage of Figaro," after an
invitation from Professor Cornelius Schnauber during Hampe’s
direction of the L.A. opera last year.
The story of "The Marriage of Figaro" is based upon the conflict
between Britain’s social classes and the fight of British subjects
for freedom under the rule of King George. Analogous to the
American Revolution, Hampe says, "It’s a complicated revolutionary
story from Mozart’s time  a story about the fight for human
rights."
While it is intense preparing for the performance (the
rehearsals ran until 10 p.m. on most nights) the workshop’s goal
was to create a light, familiar atmosphere. Hampe wanted "to learn,
but to still have fun at the same time, because after all, the more
fun you have, the more you learn." Still, Hampe maintains that his
greatest challenge in preparing for the production was having so
much to do in so little time.
Roberto Gomez, a guest performer playing the role of "Figaro"
for the November production, agrees with the level of intensity of
the workshops. He also observes the unique perspective Hampe brings
to his character. "He’s bringing out Figaro’s darker features,
which is very different from the way I’ve previously seen Figaro
played in the U.S." Gomez says.
Props assistant Leihua Hartley says the budget for the show is
small, as seen in the minimally decorated stage of a few scattered
chairs and a white desk, and by the frequent runs she makes to the
theater storage. But she also says it is the performers who really
bring this production to life. Even though the cast consists of
only 12 performers and two pianists, "The Marriage of Figaro"
demands a smaller cast, which was one of the reasons this opera was
chosen for the production.
Hampe enjoys working on a smaller scale production because
everyone gets involved. For Hampe, this is a blessing because he
feels it is the experience of teaching students which makes the
production preparations worthwhile. For the performers, however,
the main attraction is the privilege of working with Hampe.
"Under his direction, performing ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ is the
most challenging stage experience this opera department has had the
privilege of being a part of," says UCLA staff pianist Mona Landes.
"Students have really risen to the challenge."
To Hampe, the main goal at the end of the rehearsal workshops
and final performance is clear.
"I am trying to teach these young singers the profession of an
opera singer and what opera is all about. I want to give them some
idea of the very difficult handicraft of an opera singer who has to
both act and sing at the same time."
OPERA: Staged scenes from "The Marriage of Figaro," with
comments by Prof. Hampe will take place Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at
Schoenberg Hall. TIX: $25, $10 for seniors and students. For more
info, call UCLA CTO at (310) 825-2101.
GENEVIEVE LIANG
Stage Director Michael Hampe (r.) rehearses a scene with music
graduate student Erin Wood in "The Marriage of Figaro."