By Kathryn Olsen
It is commonly understood that the holidays are difficult for many people, but Symphony North‘s rock opera The Bell Ringeris putting this struggle center stage at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City. Composed by Utah native Peter Orullian, the debut project of this Symphony is the story of an indigent veteran who spends a spirit-lifting Christmas Eve as a collector for a charity. He meets a wide range of characters, ranging from an ill young girl to a world-weary soldier, and the lessons learned from each enable this lonely elder to feel empowered in a time of hopelessness and embraced in a time of loneliness. Orullian is a fantasy author and this is evident in the storyline that he weaves with the help of a rhyming narrator reflects this.
It is impressive that all solo roles are undertaken by just four vocalists. The symphonic rock of the opera is artistically demanding and spans many styles and ranges. Jody Ashworth, a former member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, is in his element the titular character and his vocals are powerful at many points.
Nicki Gonzalez is unmistakably a vocal powerhouse, but shines brightest because of emotional range. Her roles call both for ferocity and meekness at varying points.
Cristina Taliendo rounds out the female half of the vocalists with memorably grounded vocals that are transformed at certain moments into something more operatic. She is an immense presence on stage.
While Orullian is the greatest contributor to the show as its composer and producer, his work as one of the four soloists complements and enhances the performance. Even were his writing contribution unacknowledged, it would be evident in his obvious powerful connection to the music. It is his rendition of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” that transcends the ordinary musical experience and is the most unforgettable song of the entire night.
Narrator Ralph Bernstein is the most understated member of the cast, delivering the tale with moments of both humor and reverence for the messages of the work.
The music is a novel and captivating fusion of old and new, as familiar seasonal melodies are often accompanied by classical music. A romantic encounter on a dance floor is set to pianist Eren Basbug‘s reworking of the Cello Suite No. 1 by Johann Sebastian Bach, for example. Even the overture has the audience enjoying hard rock renditions of things normally voiced by small groups of carolers. The mash-ups are only made more impressive by the virtuosic efforts of the orchestra, as lead violinist Valerie Vigoda stirs Antonio Vivaldi‘s “Winter” Concerto into a frenzy to represent a sudden storm. Guitarists Morgan Wick and Ilya Ignatov take the melodic leads on everything from excerpts of Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker to C.P.E. Bach‘s Solfegiettointerlaced with “Pat-a-Pan.” The sound design by Audio Engineers Northwest enhances these moments of innovation constantly.
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This tour has already headed out of town as it was a one-night engagement, but audiences on the remainder of the tour have a great deal of holiday spirit to look forward to. For the rest, the album is now available on CD and digital recording. People of all ages will have cause to enjoy how “the wrong shall fail [and] the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men.”
Symphony North presents The Bell Ringer; by Peter Orullian.
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W Broadway, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
December 19, 2019, 7:30 PM. See the website for remaining tour dates and times.
Tickets: See site for venue and pricing information.
Contact: (801) 355-2787
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