West Bay Opera's clever imitation of TV's "American Idol" to find and
reward promising young opera singers, the "Superstar!" contest, had its
second annual run last night in the Lucie Stern Theater.  Logistically,
the show is not ready for prime time, and the results were questionable,
but David Sloss' organization certainly has its heart in the right place.
The pianist, Daniel Lockert, sight-read music for three hours like a
champ.

 From 15 contestants, singing a two-minute (!) aria or fragment thereof
before a three-judge panel, the audience selected six finalists, and
then - given a chance to sing again - the six were whittled down to three
prize-winners by the judges.

The results: soprano Duana Demus, 30, Pittsburgh, CA - $3,000 first
prize; soprano Kirsten Hoiseth, 27, Houston, TX - $1,000 second prize;
baritone Jordon Shanahan, 27, Denver, CO - $500 third prize.

All but two or three of the 15 selected participants appeared qualified
to seek an operatic career.  Two of those who failed to win a prize
showed rich, impressive talent that is certain to be recognized in another
venue: mezzo Nina Yoshida, 25, Santa Barbara, CA, and soprano Kristen
Sharpley, 26, Los Altos, CA.

Yoshida has it all: a big, vibrant voice, innate musicality, a sustained
flow, outstanding diction, and the ability to capture and hold an audience.
Even in the silly under-two-minute rule, Yoshida's performance of "Va!
laisse couler mes larmes," from "Werther" was a complete experience.
Sharpley has more promise than accomplishment, but given the right
circumstances (and more assertiveness), she could go far.  Hers is a
bright voice, she hits the notes head-on, her singing has an appealing
quality of sincerity.

Also noteworthy: mezzo Jae-Eun Paik, 29, New Canaan, CT, whose selection
of an aria from "Idomeneo" was unwise, but the quality of the voice
promising; and soprano Bharati Soman, 29, Davis, CA, who wore her own
clothes to present an authentic Lakme (explaining that "I am from a
Brahmin family, like Lakme"), but couldn't quite cope with the "Bell
Song." She is an impressive coloratura, needing more work, and lots of
diction coaching.  (Before singing Mozart, Paik spoke briefly about her
"ideal role," that of "Madama Butterfly." She identifies with the
character, she said, because of her own history of "marrying an American,
and having trouble with my [Korean] family because of that...  but it's
OK now." One senses good material there for a future "Opera News"
interview.)

Whether by coincidence or design, the judges resembled closely to their
"American Idol" counterparts: Robert Ashens played a kindly version of
Randy Jackson; Erie Mills - known to be a bright and funny lady on-stage
and off - somehow managed to present a Paula Abdul, gushing over everything;
and Jonathon Field approximated the Simon Cowell persona by suggesting
to one of contestants to quit pursuing a career. It didn't seem to be
the right time and place for that.

Field, however, had many fine observations as well, none better than his
response to the highlight of the evening, Shanahan's sizzling performance
of the "Confession Scene" from Jake Heggie's "Dead Man Walking." In the
middle of the well-justified ovation for the extraordinary accomplishment
of scoring with a contemporary, English-language piece, and in the
under-two-minute format, Field complimented the singer, but said that
"it's more Broadway than opera, and that's because of the composer."
Field was right, and Shanahan gave away the first prize that would have
been his, hands down, if the contest ended after "Dead Man Walking," by
singing a "proper" opera aria in the final round, quite without the
previous fireworks.

The jury collectively surprised just about everybody with a pair of
functioning ears in the audience by its complete silence over Demus'
seriously off-pitch "Patria Mia." She looks and sounds like a "star" and
her second aria was fine, but after what she did to poor Aida, awarding
her the top prize seemed passing strange.  The real Paula Abdul wouldn't
have done it.

Janos Gereben
www.sfcv.org
[log in to unmask]