‘La Périchole’ a delightful opera choice

Let’s face it: opera isn’t something that comes up often in conversation.

Which is why you might be surprised to learn that the University of South Carolina offers a truly comprehensive program for both graduate and undergraduate students, covering every facet of opera production, both on stage and behind the scenes.

According to Ellen Schlaefer, director of Opera Studies at USC’s School of Music, the university has a history with this dramatic form that may go back more than a hundred years.

“Opera has been produced at USC since the 1940s, although there’s some evidence ofstudents doing some opera in the 19th century.” she said. “Currently, we produce two fully-staged productions each season.”

On Friday, Opera at USC will open its 2015-16 season with “La Périchole” (The Street Singer), a love story of two impoverished Peruvian street singers who want nothing more than to marry. The score was written by Jacques Offenbach and includes energetic bolero, seguidilla and gallop dances; the lyrics are by Ludovic Halevy and Henri Meilhac, who were also the librettists for George Bizet’s Carmen.

But the real reason you should attend La Périchole is that the production is a sheer delight of melody, action, wit and harmony. It’s also an opportunity to see the work of nationally acclaimed director Garnett R. Bruce, who adores La Périchole.

“My favorite moment is the reconciliation of Périchole and Piquillo: He's being stubborn and brutal, so she reminds him he is NOT handsome, nor wealthy, nor very talented … but she can't imagine life without him,” he said. “Offenbach gives her the most touching melody of the night. And, unlike other most other 19th Century operatic heroines, she lives to tell about it!”

La Périchole runs through Sunday; for more information, visit sc.edu/music/opera

Katie McElveen, Special to The State

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 12:03 PM with the headline "‘La Périchole’ a delightful opera choice."