Brent's 'Hoffman'

A terrific article by the Athens Banner Herald on the Hugh Hodgson School of Music's production of 'The Tales of Hoffman" and DMA student Joseph Brent, who stars as Hoffman:

Compromised is too harsh a description for the UGA Opera Theater’s production of “Hoffman,” as only highlights from the text are offered here, and staging is minimal.

Since no true text of “Hoffman” exists, Brent explained they can pick and choose portions from numerous editions, as they do with the final act.

Brent, in his second year of a doctorate of musical arts in voice program, is no stranger to the stage, having played the lead in “The Pirates of Penzance” in the spring and in “La Boheme” at the PAC. Over the summer, Brent earned a contract to play Radolfo in “La Boheme” with an opera company in Italy.

But Brent, who spent most of his life studying the double bass, didn’t focus on his voice until he came to study at UGA. Born and raised in New York, Brent followed double bass professor Milton Masciadri from Juliard to Athens.

Compared to double bass duty in an orchestra, opera offers Brent a chance to step out of the shadows.

“Not to sound egotistical — that’s the nice thing about opera. When you are a soloist on a stage, everyone is interested in what you have to say,” Brent said. “You can communicate what the composer is trying to do. There are so many people behind the stage ... coaches, directors, lighting designers. It’s our job to represent them and to represent ourselves. In many ways, it’s not egotistical at all because I’m representing so many people onstage.”

Yes you are, Joe. And very well, at that. The two-night production is tonight and Saturday. Tickets here.