Theme Thursday - Stage

It is impossible for me to write about the subject of "stage" without bringing up the opera stage and my favorite opera singer, who also happens to be my daughter, by the way, the talented and lovely mezzo-soprano, Elspeth Kincaid.

Elspeth's most recent role was that of Siebel in Opera Tampa's production of Gounod's Faust this past April. If you're not familiar with this opera, the role of Siebel is a "pants role", a male character sung and acted by a female, usually a mezzo-soprano. I was completely amazed at the transformation. Not only does Elspeth have a rich, beautiful mezzo voice, but she has the uncanny ability to completely step into a role and become that character, whether it be a flighty girl, an old hag, or even a handsome young man.

Can you believe this? She really has a "Leonardo Dicaprio" thing going on here, don't you think? Amazing. I'll have to admit, the makeup artist did a marvelous job, too, with the wig and makeup

She had the good fortune to work with the renowned American opera conductor and composer, Maestro Anton Coppola, in this production of Faust. Most of you will recognize the talented family name. He is the uncle of film director Francis Ford Coppola, with family ties to Nicholas Cage and director Sophia Coppola.

The opera took place in the beautiful Tampa Bay performing Arts Center. Here's a view from the back of the stage during one of her rehearsals.

A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer,

it sings because it has a song.

Maya Angelou