Cynthia Cole, Artistic Director & Founder of the 7 Sopranos, has put together a
‘divalicious’ production featuring herself and six vibrant, soprano songbirds. The production is very polished and well-rehearsed. The luscious singers, all clad in smoldering red gowns, are each classy, professional singers with national and international singing credits. Moreover, they are each very playful and animated, and delight in showing off.
The 7 Sopranos include: Cynthia Cole, Angeli Ferrette, Nicole Lamm, Susanna R. Lauer, Eriko Tokura Murray, Adrienne D. Neal, and Bharati Soman. The collaborative pianist is the award-winning Ruth Locker, a talented artist in her own right. For this performance, Ms. Locker artistically and effortlessly moved through twenty-four musical numbers – guiding the professional singers with ease and dexterity.
The production features songs from opera, operetta, musical comedy, and the ‘Art Song’ genre. There are nineteen ensemble songs, and seven engaging solos – one for each of the divas, of course.
Of the ensemble pieces, I particularly enjoyed: “Amarilli”, “mia bella”, “Delibes Sous le Dome Epais”, “Summertime”, “Habanera”, “Down to the River to Pray”, the humorous Gilbert and Sullivan aria “Three Little Maids from School”, and a very amusing ‘Comic Duet for Two Cats’.
Of the solos, I was very impressed by Ms. Lauer’s powerful, inspiring “Porgi Amor”, and Ms. Soman’s expressive and lovely “What Good Would the Moon Be?”
Divas Just Wanna Have Fun! was a delight from beginning to end. Rarely will you find such a group of sopranos on one stage together in the Washington D.C. area. I look forward to seeing how the 7 Sopranos challenge themselves in the future. Go for it, Ms. Divas sublime!
Running Time: 70 minutes.
Divas Just Wanna Have Fun! information.
