2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

Focus> Offbeat HK> Content
Friday, December 06, 2019, 12:27
Making a song and dance about being single
By Melanie Hoare
Friday, December 06, 2019, 12:27 By Melanie Hoare

Two internationally-acclaimed opera singers make their HK debut with Musica Viva’s The Merry Widow this week. Melanie Hoare reports.

Rehearsal in progress in the lead-up to the staging of The Merry Widow in Hong Kong. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

The timeless question of “will they or won’t they” comes to the fore in Musica Viva’s production of Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow, which opens in Hong Kong tonight. The romantic operetta stars sopranos Caroline Worra (evening performances) and Jessica Sandidge (matinee) in the title role of Anna Glawari, with Count Danilo played by Richard Troxell (evening performances) and Jonathan Beyer (matinee). 

Worra describes Anna as a wonderful character to portray. “She is the perfect combination of femininity and strength, combined with passion, compassion and joy,” Worra says. “I’ve really enjoyed having such a strong female character to play, one that really enjoys life, and this production just enhances all of that.”

The storyline follows the life of Anna, a young widow who has become wealthy following the passing of her husband. A number of suitors turn up at her door, including Anna’s first love, Danilo. Much amusement ensues and the opera is full of light and tender moments. The production by Musica Viva’s director general Lo Kingman also features dance performances and elaborate costumes that give the opera an air of grandeur. 

Although the opera was first performed in 1905, Worra feels it is still relevant today. 

“The opera really comes down to true love winning over all odds and certainly in our world today, we all want to have love in our lives,” Worra says. “This opera is kind of a fun way to keep fighting for what our hearts truly desire. It’s nice in a turbulent world to have something that’s a positive reminder of something as simple as love, but also so powerful and meaningful.”

Sandidge was delighted at being asked to play a strong female protagonist. “She’s rather brave,” she says. “She’s adventurous and hopeful. She’s not a shrinking violet and she has this opportunity to start her life over again and she does it in a way that’s real. She doesn’t just become a lonely widow with a lot of wealth — she goes out and wants to live a full life. Even though she’s a widow, she’s not a tragic figure, so it’s refreshing to see a character who is actually comical and, at the same time, relatable.” 

Jessica Sandidge (third from left) sings the lead inThe Merry Widow. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Both Sandidge and Worra will be making their Hong Kong debuts with The Merry Widow. While Worra has previously performed in Tokyo, this weekend’s performances will also be Sandidge’s first in Asia. 

“This is my first time in Hong Kong — visiting and singing – and I’m thrilled to have this opportunity,” Sandidge says. “I love that opera has given me this opportunity to sing this role and visit this part of the world.”

From a young age, Sandidge played the harp and violin. She studied the former at university with the intention of becoming a harpist. But after taking part in a choir audition she switched to vocal performance, singing her first opera role a year later. “I’ve never looked back,” she says. 

Richard Troxell plays Count Danilo (right) to Caroline Worra’s Anna in The Merry Widow. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Worra began singing in church and at school, but didn’t really consider singing opera until she was at university. It was the combination of the power of the operatic voice and performance aspects that drew her to the genre. Worra has now sung more than 90 different roles, including a number of premieres. This will be her fourth time singing Anna in The Merry Widow, a role she calls one of her favorites. 

She believes that audiences, too, will be easily drawn to this opera. “I love the fact the music in this opera is something that everyone in the theater can hum and tap along (to),” she says. “The quality of the music in the show is something I really enjoy and it’s a big spectacle of a show.” 

If you go

The Merry Widow

Featuring the sopranos Caroline Worra and Jessica Sandidge  

Presented by Musica Viva

Date: Dec 6 – 7, 7:45 pm; Dec 7 – 8, 2:30 pm

Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, Edinburgh Place, Central

www.musicavivahk.org/the-merry-widow


Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !