The Indy List

The Opera Santa Barbara Puccini Festival begins with Tosca on
Saturday, February 18 and runs through March 5 at the Lobero
Theatre. To get a feel for what to expect, we shot five important
questions to Tosca director James Marvel (JM) and to Cindy Sadler
(CS), who is making her OSB debut in Gianni Schicchi. For more
info, call 898-3890.

{1} How’s the venue? “We enjoy a real intimacy with the audience
at the Lobero because it’s relatively small, and it’s very
different from opera in a big hall. I did Carmen once in a room
with only 100 seats, and when I got stabbed and died not 10 feet
from these people, and kept singing, they loved it. It’s why I love
to sing.”  — CS

{2} How are the rehearsals of Tosca going? “My policy is not to
go with my idea —  my policy is to go with the best idea.”
 — JM

{3} What should we be looking forward to in Gianni Schicchi? “My
favorite moment is when David Small (who plays Gianni Schicchi) and
I have a screaming, knock-down, drag-out fight. I mean, you think
we are going to throw down. And you’re not sure who is going to
win.”  — CS

{4} What should we be looking forward to in Tosca? “The murder
will be fun.” — JM

{5} What’s the bottom line of the Puccini Festival? “Opera will
never die.”  — CS