COMMANDOpera came across The Florentine Opera which is a regional company centered in Milwaukee. After blinking at the screen a few times, one determined to investigate further as is the practice. The Florentine Opera generally runs three productions a year which was initially slanted rather heavily towards Italian repertoire. Why? There is a huge expatriate Italian community in the city of Milwaukee which has been around since the turn of the last century.

The 2009 1010 season included Tosca, Rigoletto, and Elmer Gantry. Elmer Gantry? Here is what the Florentine Opera tells us; ’Based on the satire by American novelist Sinclair Lewis (which was also the basis for an Academy Award-winning film starring Burt Lancaster and Jean Simmons), Elmer Gantry mixes traditional operatic forms with vibrant gospel hymns and ensemble to explore the complex and sometimes conflicted role of religion in American life. This quintessentially American story of love and corruption follows a fraudulent womanizer through both his rise to power and fall from grace in early 20th century rural America.’ There is something very cool about American opera companies who determine to offer a work such as this which is imminently suitable to their regional audiences. The Atlanta Opera is offering Porgy and Bess. Other regional American theatres should aspire to this model. Its brilliant. The Florentine Opera will be recording the work for the Naxos label, the first ever CD of the work which debuted in 2007, to be released.

And this brings readers to Mr. Keith Phares pictured above who will portray Elmer Gantry. COMMANDOpera had heard of Mr. Phares for the first time a few years back, when the artist had appeared in Béatrice et Bénèdict. The artist is in demand at every house, and where he has appeared, esteem Mr. Phares for his courtesy to colleagues and overall professionalism across the board. COMMANDOpera determined to speak with the Elmer Gantry himself to get a perspective on the work. Emails were exchanged, and a time was arranged to speak with Mr. Phares [Actually there were a few conversations. Mr. Phares' partner who is also an opera singer in the mezzo range was away that first afternoon call, with Mr. Phares looking after their two rather young children. It is enough to say, the eighteen month old inherited the lungs of both his parents and the call was short lived and rescheduled for the following day]. In researching the background of Mr. Phares one found the artist had invested a great deal of his professional career in the continental U.S. and the bulk of the artists repertoire was from both British and American composers.

Mr. Phares in duet with Miss Rivera, Elmer Gantry Nashville 2007.

COMMANDOpera could not imagine why it was possible for a lyric baritone of Mr. Phares’ obvious appeal both vocally and physically was not involved with the more traditional repertoire one generally follows. Mr. Phares indeed has taken on a number of roles one would recognise; Sharpless, Almaviva, Mercutio (though it is the buffo repertoire which the artist isn’t offered often that he would really enjoy working with. Who knew one could be typecast simply by owning matinee idol features). In pressing the artist as to other roles which would be of interest (read; which suited COMMANDOpera), he gave in with Wozzeck, though too dark for his instrument at this time. Chou en Lai in Nixon in China was also on the table (he is in fact doing this role in Portland). But at the real heart of Mr. Phares which hit this writer like a blunt object were the words; Contemporary Opera. One did not see that one coming, however in reviewing his career trajectory it made a great deal of sense. This is a man whose favoured composer is Mr. Benjamin Britten. Mr. Phares might have sensed my disconcertedness, and advised that it was with contemporary works that he had finally realized his artistic identity.

Mr. Phares in Sweeny Todd.

Mr. Phares also confided that he prefers working in the English language which one found amusing only because this is the first time an American artist actually admitted to the obvious comfort of working in one’s native tongue. COMMANDOpera could not help but feel a great admiration for the man with a golden voice and matinee idol looks who resolutely determines to enjoy his career the way he see’s it as it should be. Mr. Phares calendar is heavily booked as the baritone is in high demand through out America. Will COMMANDOpera ever know a Nabucco from the golden vocal instrument of highly regarded Mr. Phares? After speaking with the artist one can hope to live another 20 years when he might determine, that perhaps, yes perhaps…. maybe.