2019/20 UMS LEARNING GUIDE Isango Ensemble: The Magic Flute BE PRESENT BE PRESENT 1 2019/20 Table of Contents 04 05 06 18 ATTEND THE DETAILS LEARN CONNECT 07 Why? 19 Being an Audience Member 09 Artist 22 Arts Online 12 Art Form 23 Recommended Reading 15 Performance 25 Writing About Live Performance 28 About UMS 30 Credits and Sponsors October 17-18 October UMS SCHOOL DAY PERFORMANCE Isango Ensemble: The Magic Flute Thursday, October 17 // 11 am Friday, October 18 // 11 am Power Center BE PRESENT 3 Attend Coming to your email Inbox! Map and Driving Directions Logistical Details (drop-off/pick-up locations) Venue Information 734.764.2538 ——— UMS.ORG BE PRESENT 4 The Details ACCESSIBILITY We aim to maximize accessibility at our performances and below are details regarding this performance’s points of accessibility. If you have further questions, e-mail [email protected] or call 734.615.0122. The following services are available to audience members: • Wheelchair, companion, or other special seating • Courtesy wheelchairs • Hearing Impaired Support Systems PARKING There is handicapped parking very close to the Power Center on Fletcher Street and in the parking structure behind the Power Center on Palmer Drive. The first three levels of the Palmer Drive structure have five parking spots on each level next to each elevator. There are a total of 15 parking spaces in the garage. VENUE ADDRESS Power Center, 121 Fletcher St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY The Power Center is wheelchair accessible and has 12 seats for audience EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBER members with special needs. 734.764.2538 BATHROOMS ADA ARRIVAL TIME Compliant toilets are available in the green room (east corner) of the Power Between 10:30-10:50 am Center for both men and women. TICKETS ENTRY We do not use paper tickets for School Day Performances. We hold school The front doors are not powered; however, there will be an usher at that door reservations at the door and seat groups upon arrival. opening it for all patrons. FOOD No food or drinks (including school lunches) are allowed in the theater. BE PRESENT 5 Learn Isango Ensemble: The Magic Flute UMS.ORG ——— 734.615.0122 BE PRESENT 6 LEARN Why? UMS EDUCATION ARTISTSIC STATEMENT Isango Ensemble is a South African theater company known for its unique and vibrant re-imaginings of classics from the Western theater canon. The company finds new context for works from Shakespeare to Puccini, placing them within a South African setting and reflecting the company’s national heritage through vibrant storytelling injected with wit and infectious joy. In the company’s retelling of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous opera The Magic Flute, Isango Ensemble music director Mandisi Dyantyis trades Mozart’s orchestra of strings and woodwinds for an orchestra of marimbas and drums, and a spirited trumpet takes on the voice of the work’s titular magical instrument. Isango Ensemble’s retelling is instantly familiar and fits perfectly with the original opera’s themes of faith, good conquering evil, and finding true love. UMS is excited to introduce the Isango Ensemble’s joyful and uplifting version of Mozart’s beloved and timeless story. BE PRESENT 7 LEARN Why? ONLINE: CONNECTING TO THE PERFORMANCE Watch Isango Ensemble warming up for a performance of The Magic Flute. Watch Isango Ensemble perform excerpts from their re-imagining of Mozart’s classic work. BE PRESENT 8 LEARN Artist ISANGO ENSEMBLE: FIVE THINGS TO KNOW 01 02 03 Director Mark Dornford-Mayand and Music In addition to her role as Isango’s The Magic Flute (also known in South Africa as Director Pauline Malefane formed what is music director, Pauline Malefane is an Impempe Yomlingo), features Mozart’s score now the core of Isango Ensemble in Cape advocate for The Global Fund to Fight transposed by Mandisi Dyantyis for an orchestra Town in 2000. From the beginning, the AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. She saw of marimbas. It broke box office records when company has drawn its performers from worldwide success playing the role of it played in repertoire with A Christmas Carol the previously disadvantaged townships Carmen, both on stage and in the Golden (Ikrismas Kherol) at the Young Vic in London. The surrounding the city. Bear-winning feature film U-Carmen Magic Flute then went onto win an Olivier Award eKhayelithsa, for which she won a for Best Musical Revival when it transferred to the Golden Thumb from Roger Ebert. Duke of York’s Theatre for a season in the West End and received the Globes de Cristal for Best Opera Production following a sold-out season at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. 04 05 Isango Ensemble is committed to creating Isango Ensemble’s educational engagement accessible theater for South Africans and to initiatives include collaborations with Injongo contributing to a more united South African Primary School and the Liwa School in South nation. Isango’s award-winning film, uCarmen Africa. Isango recruited young actors from these eKhayelitsha, and a second film, Son of Man, schools to join the ensemble in its production were filmed on location in Khayelitsha and of A Man of Good Hope at London’s Young Vic propelled this historically disadvantaged theatre and BAM in New York. Isango and Young township into the international spotlight. Vic are collaborating with Injongo and Liwa Local residents were given the opportunity to schools on a new play Fable by Luke Barnes, be part of the films. Isango intends to further a theatrical response to A Man of Good Hope. develop this process by building a truly mixed audience, reflecting and uniting a diverse South African nation. BE PRESENT 9 LEARN Artist ONLINE: GETTING TO KNOW ISANGO ENSEMBLE Watch Isango Ensemble’s Pauline Malefane discuss the ensemble’s artistic process during rehearsals of their 2012 production of La Bohème in Cape Town, South Africa. Follow Isango Ensemble on Facebook Follow Isango Ensemble on Twitter @isangoensemble BE PRESENT 10 LEARN Art Form OPERA OPERA Did You Know? Opera combines many art forms — singing, instrumental music, dancing, visual art and more — into one major production. It involves hundreds of people on, behind, and under Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s actual the stage. Many people and departments work together toward a common goal, and each 01 full name is Johannes Chrysostomus part is equally important to the process. Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. As a child, he would jokingly sign letters An opera is like a modern-day musical, in which all the characters’ lines are sung rather with his name backwards: “Trazom.” than spoken. However, the musicians and opera singers do not use microphones or speakers. The sets and the characters’ costumes are often as elaborate and finely crafted as the words and music, and the entire production is led by a director whose artistic Mozart composed over 600 works vision determines the way these elements take shape and combine in performance. 02 of classical music during his brief 35-year life, including 41 symphonies, more than 20 piano concertos, and more than 20 operas. Mozart WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756–1791) completed his first symphony in 1764, when he was only eight years old! Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria and was considered a child prodigy. He composed his first piece of music at the age of five; his first piece was published at age seven, and he wrote his first opera when he was only 12! By the age of six, he was a proficient pianist Wolfgang’s older sister Maria Anna and violinist, traveling all over Europe and performing for royalty with his sister and father. 03 Mozart, nicknamed “Nannerl,” was A remarkably prolific composer, Mozart remains popular today, and many of his solo, a talented performer and composer chamber, and symphonic works had a lasting influence on Western art music. as well. The Mozart siblings performed as touring musicians throughout their childhood. BE PRESENT 11 Cadenza A passage of music usually found at the end of an aria. Cadenzas showcase the singer’s skill and virtuosity, and are rhythmically free and highly ornamented. Choreographer The person who creates the steps for dances within a production. Chorus A large group of singers who sing together, portraying unnamed characters. The chorus is often called the “ensemble.” Coloratura Elaborate singing involving vocal runs, trills, LEARN and leaps. The “coloratura soprano” is a classification of singer who specializes in coloratura repertoire. Composer Art Form The person who writes the music for the OPERA opera. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the composer of The Magic Flute. THE ABC’S OF OPERA: A GLOSSARY Aria Libretto A A song for solo voice with accompaniment from the orchestra. Arias reveal L The “little book” in Italian. The libretto contains all of the words and stage important information about the opera’s characters and story, whereas directions for the opera, much like the script for a play. recitatives move the plot of the opera forward. Librettist The person who writes the words to an opera. Emanuel Schikaneder is the librettist of The Magic Flute. Baritone B An adult male singing voice between tenor (highest) and bass (lowest) range. Bass Mezzo-Soprano The lowest pitched ordinary male voice type. M A female singing voice whose vocal range lies between the soprano (high) and contralto (low). Cadenza c A passage of music usually found at the end of an aria. Cadenzas showcase the singer’s skill and virtuosity, and are rhythmically free and highly ornamented. Orchestra O The group of musicians who perform the music of the opera. A conventional Choreographer opera orchestra usually includes a large group of stringed instruments along The person who creates the steps for dances within a production.