Springfield Regional Opera is about to celebrate its 40th season—the company’s official debut was a production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” at the Gillioz Theatre in the summer of 1980. The year before that, there was a sort of “calling card” production of Puccini’s “La Boheme” at the Landers, that was officially produced by Springfield Little Theatre. Its success proved to the late Dawin Emanuel, then Lecturer in Opera at Missouri State University, that Springfield was ready for a local opera company.
To kick off the 40th SRO season, you’re invited to a special pop-up event, "Summertime Opera at Social," Saturday June 15 at 6:00pm at Social on Patton, 314 S. Patton Avenue in downtown Springfield, featuring baritone Dr. Richard Todd Payne, a member of the Missouri State vocal-music faculty and veteran of several SRO production, along with four vocal music students from the University, potential opera stars of tomorrow. Dr. Payne came to the KSMU studios with two of those student singers, sopranos Aiyana Williams and Alissa Lang-Taylor, to talk about the event. Lang-Taylor is a student of Dr. Payne, while Williams is a student of his colleague in the MSU Music Department, Dr. Carol Chapman. “Aiyana is a senior Vocal Performance major, and has had the opportunity to perform in several operas with Missouri State’s Opera Theater, and she’s also performed a bit with Springfield Regional Opera,” according to Dr. Payne. And Alissa Lang-Taylor is a senior Bachelor of Science music major. “She’s been active not just in the choirs but she’s also the Music Director for A Cub Bella,” the MSU women’s a cappella vocal ensemble.
Lang-Taylor had the opportunity to go to New York recently with the MSU Chorale. It was her first time in New York City, and Dr. Payne compared her experience to his own in 1986 when he went to New York for the first time: “It was an eye-opening experience.” She says New York was “absolutely amazing. The city is extremely busy at all times of the day. I had the opportunity to see ‘Waitress’ on Broadway. And I got lost in the subway!” (Williams says she went to New York with her grandmother when she was 15, but not as part of an MSU musical ensemble.)
The two sopranos will be joined by two other student singers at the event Saturday night: tenor Esteban Valentin-Martinez, and mezzo-soprano Emily MacFadden. Dr. Payne will also perform several selections.
“What people will hear will be an eclectic selection of songs—not just opera. They’ll hear some musical theater, they will hear some spirituals, and they will hear some jazz. And it will be two sets. There will be a 30-minute intermission, kind of like in a jazz (club) setting—you do one set and you want to make sure the crowd doesn’t leave! Please, enjoy hors d’oeuvres, enjoy drinks, and we’ll be back.” There will be food by Chef Daniel Stern, and drinks by Social on Patton bartender Anthony Ponseigo. The event will occupy both levels at Social. According to Dr. Payne, the performers will be on the top level, but there will be a speaker system downstairs to ensure those patrons can hear everything. “And trust me, these singers do NOT need amplification!” (Neither does Dr. Payne, for that matter.) Indicating our Master Control Room, he declared, “If they start singing now, Construction will have to come here and re-do your ceilings, okay?”
Among the eclectic musical selections for the event will be Rosina’s aria from Rossini’s “Barber of Seville;” excerpts from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” Aiyama Williams says she has the “honor of singing with Dr. Payne himself—we’re singing “Bess, You Is My Woman.” And I’m really excited—and also nervous to compete with someone like Dr. Payne!” As he gently reminds her, “It’s not a competition.” “What I mean is, I hope my volume can match yours.” Dr. Payne will sing several selections, but insists the performance “it really isn’t about me. When I got asked to do this, I said, ‘I know you want me to sing. But this is about the next generation that will one day succeed me. Don’t get me wrong—I know I still have another 20 or 30 years to continue to sing. But part of that is me being a role model for the next generation.” In addition to two “Porgy and Bess” selections, Dr. Payne will sing “Old Man River” from “Showboat”; the pop song “Unforgettable” by Irving Gordon, made famous by Nat King Cole in the early 1950s; and “What a Wonderful World,” a song long identified with Louis Armstrong. “And those two will be in celebration of Father’s Day.”
The evening is a fundraiser for Springfield Regional Opera so they can continue enriching our lives with musical culture; and they'll raise money for Harmony House to help them provide shelter, advocacy and education to survivors of domestic violence, and promote the principle that all individuals have the right to a life free of abuse. Social on Patton is located at 314 S. Patton Avenue downtown; tickets are $40, with valet parking available from 5:30 to 10:30pm at the door. For information visit http://www.sropera.org.
