Big voices stir much `Passion’ for pops> Opera Maine singers shine on show tunes

Big. That’s the word for Opera Maine’s touring production of “Passion and the Pops,” which opened Sunday at the Trenton Grange Hall and has several more gigs in the midcoast area through Aug. 1. This spritely company specializes in opera and will present several short ones before the season ends. In the meantime, it quite rightly recognizes a sparsely filled niche for pops in Maine in the summer.

So the singers, most of whom have year-round singing careers in other states, turn their hefty voices to the likes of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Broadway. Admittedly, it’s strange to hear an operatic version of “I Feel Pretty,” which was originally sung by Puerto Rican women in Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” But there’s no denying just how fit these voices are — even if style and content don’t make the absolute perfect marriage.

And actually, this group defines “pops” fairly loosely. In addition to high-minded versions of “There’s No Business Like Show Business” (from “Annie Get Your Gun”), “Luck Be a Lady” (“Guys and Dolls”) and “What I Did for Love” (“A Chorus Line”), Opera Maine also presents hold-on-to-your-seat arias from “Carmen,” “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Madama Butterfly” and “Die Fledermaus.”

Although each of the principal singers has a moment to shine, the one who has crossover finesse is George Wolff, who co-directed the show with Opera Maine’s good-natured artistic director David Katz. Wolff’s voice works just as effervescently for the show tunes as it does for the more rigorous numbers, and he simply eats up the stage with his go-getter energy.

Cynthia Douglas runs a vocal marathon with “Glitter and Be Gay,” from Berstein’s “Candide,” and although she may not get the gold at every turn, she is helplessly disposed to sparkle powerfully. Suzanne Balaes has her own moments of operatic exultation. And Terry Morris is, as ever, a voracious baritone.

A chorus made up primarily of Mainers augments the kaleidoscope of sound that Opera Maine achieves. The most evocative moment of the evening belongs to Amy Susan Ackerman, a Colby College student from Ellsworth. She sings one line at the end of “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and tenderly swells every heart in the room.

Nevertheless, this is an evening of big voices. The battle of the big voices, in fact (which sometimes results in a bit of vying rather than blending). But there’s no shortage of talent to admire or champagnelike melodies to bewitch the audience. Pianist Robert J. Ashens, III plays no small part in the fun. He’s a fine pianist whose sound is, regrettably, more sizable than some of the venues in which he’ll be performing.

“Passion and the Pops” will be performed 7:30 p.m. July 28 at the University of Maine in Machias, 8 p.m. July 30 at Marsh River Theater in Brooks, 7:30 p.m. July 31 at the First Congregational Church in Blue Hill and 5 p.m. Aug. 1 at Hammond Hall in Winter Harbor. For information and reservations, call 546-4495.