THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501200259
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 128 lines
SEAN PETERSEN, a 12-year-old from Western Branch, is making music history.
The son of Kermette and John Petersen is in the cast of the new opera ``Simon Bolivar.''
The opera, based on the life of the great South American liberator, had its world premiere Friday before a capacity audience at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk.
Petersen plays the role of young Simon Bolivar. The 19th-century South American general liberated much of the continent from Spanish tyranny and tried to unify it into one huge nation.
A Virginia Opera Association spokesperson said Petersen is featured in a major scene consisting of Spanish dialogue and lyrics and is in nearly every other scene as the personification of Bolivar's youth as the South American liberator thinks back on his formative years and education.
The opera was written by Thea Musgrave, wife of Peter Mark, musical director of the VOA. Musgrave also has written world-acclaimed operas based on the lives and deeds of such historical figures as Harriet Tubman and Mary, Queen of Scots.
Besides attracting critics from across America, the opera also will be reviewed by London's four major daily newspapers. The opera also will be recorded for broadcast on National Public Radio and the BBC.
So does all this make Sean Petersen nervous?
``It's awesome,'' the seventh-grade student at Suffolk's Suffolk-Nansemond Academy said. ``It's one of the hardest things I've done, but I've done it enough so that it's now becoming a rhythm, I'm into a pattern.''
And beyond that, ``I'm having a great time.''
His mom, Kermette Petersen, said, ``He's very serious about his work, but I've never really seen him nervous . . . He's never really been a serious kind of boy, he's such a jokester. But for this, he gets serious and concentrates.''
Sean has had plenty of stage experience to allow him to get into his ``pattern.''
He appeared as the shepherd boy in the Virginia Opera's 1994 version of ``Tosca.'' He played the title role in last year's Commonwealth Stage production of the musical ``Oliver!'' and has worked with several other local and regional acting companies and troupes.
For the past 13 months, Sean has been studying voice with Bob Turner, a Portsmouth-based voice teacher and coach. An instructor at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Turner is strongly centered in opera.
Sean said he was sent some advance music of Musgrave's opera several months ago by the VOA. ``It's really neat music,'' he said, ``but it's hard, very hard.''
After the advance preparation, Sean began intense rehearsals on Dec. 19, sometimes six times a week.
But Sean didn't see the rehearsals as drudgery. ``I'm having a great time,'' he said. ``I enjoy the work, the music, and I have lots of friends my age in the cast. And I love Lillian (Garrett-Groag, the opera's director). She's really cheerful and loves to work with the kids.''
When Sean is not working on any scenes, he and his young opera cohorts play cards or hackey-sack and engage in other forms of playful mischief. ``We have a wild time backstage,'' he said. ``It's fun, not boring.''
In spite of all the opera work, school has not suffered, Sean added. ``My teachers have been a big help, and I do better when I do a show. I tend to keep up with my studies more.''
The Simon Bolivar experience has even helped Sean gain insight into another language.
``Let's see: He's sung in Italian, French, Hebrew and now Spanish,'' his mom said. ``I guess he's learning several languages because of his singing.''
Sean has taken a little Spanish in school, he said, ``so I only know what I sing and say. But I have to understand some of the dialogue so I can react properly to it.''
After this experience, Sean plans to take a break from singing and performing.
``Sean told me the other day, `Mom, the seventh grade has sneaked up behind me and slapped me in the face,' '' Petersen said. ``So we're going to concentrate on his school when this is all over.''
Even though he's been on local television and all over the stage, Sean said his school chums treat him ``like everybody else.''
Just because he's been in opera doesn't mean Sean is a frail child who stays home and listens to arias.
``Actually, he's a rock 'n' roll kinda guy,'' his mother said.
``I love classic rock, like Hendrix and Led Zeppelin,'' Sean said. ``And I love sports, especially basketball. I love the Bulls. I also enjoy playing street hockey.''
His place in music history doesn't seem to faze Sean all that much. Right now he's most excited about The Stingrays, his neighborhood street hockey team.
``We're 4 and 0,'' he said proudly.
The real Simon Bolivar could never make a boast like that. MEMO: [This story also appeared in the Suffolk Sun, January, 22, 1995.]
ILLUSTRATION: ON THE COVER
[Color cover photo]
Sean Petersen rehearses for ``Simon Bolivar.'' Staff photo by John
H. Sheally II.
Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Stephen Guggenhelm stars as Simon Bolivar and Amy Johnson plays his
mistress.
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Sean Petersen also has appeared in Virginia Opera's version of
``Tosca'' and the musical ``Oliver!''
Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Stephen Guggenheim, center, rehearses for his lead role in ``Simon
Bolivar.''
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Sean Petersen takes to the stage for dress rehearsal of Thea
Musgrave's new opera ``Simon Bolivar.''
Graphic
OPERA SCHEDULE
Here is the remaining schedule for the Virginia Opera Association
production of Thea Musgrave's ``Simon Bolivar'':
Harrison Opera House, Norfolk: today, Wednesday, Friday and Jan.
29.
Carpenter Center, Richmond: Feb. 8 and 10.
For more information, call the VOA ticket office: 623-1223.
by CNB