Menotti's The Telephone

In an afternoon of song and opera the next Globe Sunday Matinee concert features a performance by the Occasional Operatic Production Society of one of the classics of twentieth century comic opera, Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Telephone. The Telephone was written and first performed on Broadway in 1947. It features Lucy, a fitness fanatic, and Ben, an airline pilot on a strict schedule. They have difficulty communicating, but thanks to some modern technology, love finds a way.

Menotti was born in Italy, worked in America and Australia, and lived in Scotland (where his neighbours all called him Mr. McNotti). He composed 25 operas and much else besides. Menotti’s texts are in English and the accompaniment sensitively mirrors his characters’ emotions, and gives the singers interpretative freedom.

Nadya Slack (soprano) performs the role of Lucy. After passing her ATCL with Distinction in 2018 she went on to tour around New Zealand with concert violinist Hayden Wiseman. Since then, she has sung in various performances, including the Renaissance Singers’ Squaring Up concert in 2021. She couldn’t be more excited to bring the character of Lucy to life in this opera, one of her last chances to perform here before shifting with the air force.

Lindsay Yeo (bass-baritone) began singing at Palmerston North Boys High school in various shows and in the OK Chorale. Under the tutelage of Mary Ayres he received a Musica Viva vocal scholarship and was the PACANZ Young Performer of the Year in 2014. Lindsay was a soloist in the premieres of Graham Parsons’ Renaissance Singers 40th Anniversary Mass, and Songs of Home. He sang the role of Adam in the world premiere of the 200 year old oratorio Hymn of Adam and Eve by Samuel Arnold, and he is honoured to premiere Rod Biss’s Songs and Memories song cycle. He has also played the roles of Billy Flynn in Chicago, Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde and Nick Massi in Jersey Boys. Lindsay lives locally with wife Michaela and three daughters, and works as a psychologist.

Music Director and pianist Christine Archer-Lockwood is a music therapist, chamber musician, accompanist, piano teacher, music director, and conductor. She returned from overseas to Palmerston North in 2017, and is Music Director of the Renaissance Singers. Christine has loved Menotti’s music for many years. She says: “In 1990 I saw The Telephone in Washington DC, and fell in love with the music and the libretto. So last year when Paul approached me about performing The Telephone I jumped at the opportunity.”

Director Paul Lyons has directed and acted in scores of plays; he paints vibrant watercolours, has appeared in ballets, designs loudspeakers, makes leadlights, and has sung principal and chorus roles in several operas and a number of musicals. He currently sings bass in The Renaissance Singers. He was once a computer scientist, is married to Karen, and has two wonderful daughters and one super-cute grand-daughter.

The programme also includes duets from Gilbert and Sullivans’s Iolanthe, Mozart and Puccini arias, and a premiere of Songs and Memories by New Zealand composer Rod Biss.
Admission is by donation, recommended from $5.