Four of America's top rising opera stars will appear in "Idol Extravaganza" for the Sun Valley Opera's Fourth of July holiday weekend performance. The show will take place at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6. There will be a "Diva" cocktail party around the piano with artists on Thursday, July 3, in a private residence and a hosted "Diva" dinner at Chandlers following the party.
Tickets for adults are $35, children $10 and "Diva" tickets start at $125. For tickets and details, call Sun Valley Opera at 726-0991, visit sunvalleyopera.com or Chapter One Bookstore in Ketchum.
In its seventh year the Sun Valley Opera will present well-known solo and ensemble melodies, from "Miss Saigon" to Verdi and "Les Miserables" to Mozart. Performers include soprano Ani Maldjian, mezzo-soprano Sarah Heltzel, tenor Marcus Shelton and baritone Kenneth Mattice. Expect to hear all the singers performing in a variety of solos and duets as well as all together, covering renowned opera such as Johann Strauss's "Adele's Laughing Song" from "Die Fledermaus" to classical musical songs such as "Hello Dolly!"
"We are doing a big concert with opera arias and show tunes from different musicals," Mattice said. "The first part we will be doing as a competition, which will be an operatic version of "American Idol" with audience participation. We each will sing two solos and then there will be a vote."
Mattice said the second half of the evening will be very fun, including ensembles and lots of duets. Several of the singers have not performed together before and welcome the opportunity to come to Sun Valley to do that.
"What draws me to the music is the passion and the drama as well as the music itself," Mattice said. "I just throw myself into it and become the character on stage."
Opera singers are extremely hard-working performers and always open to new opportunities. The "Idol Extravaganza" is a rare opportunity to experience the crossover of opera and popular music. The performance in Sun Valley is based upon the popular United Kingdom television show, "Britain's Got Talent," which premiered in June 2007. The winner was a British tenor.
Baritone Kenneth Mattice performs as Figaro in Mozart’s "The Marriage of Figaro."
