by Topher Forhecz, Maryland Gazzette
In true diva fashion, Cynthia Cole likes things her way.
After working over the years with groups such as Opera International, George Washington University Opera Theater and the Crittenden Opera Workshop Company, Cole was searching for a group interested in producing theatrical, rapid-fire performances. In 2007, she decided to strike out on her own and formed the 7 Sopranos.
Clad in red gowns, the group also featuring Nicole Lamm, Susanna R. Lauer, Angeli Ferrette, Bharati Soman, Eriko Tokura Murray and Maryann East (subbing for Adrienne D. Neal) will perform Dec. 21 at the Harmony Hall Regional Center for the center's Afternoon Tea performance series.
The concert will include standards such as "Ave Maria" and "Silver Bells," but Cole says what sets the show apart is that the songs will be performed "7 Sopranos style." This involves creating new harmonies and rearranging songs so that the singers can trade parts like a vocal tag-team.
"It's not easy. It's a lot more difficult than standing up there and singing by yourself and you really have to pay attention," Cole says.
Before veering into holiday tunes, the show will start with the group's opening number, "Art is Calling For Me!" by Victor Herbert from their show "Divas Just Wanna Have Fun!" which first premiered at Washington, D.C.'s Capital Fringe Festival in July.
"We each come on stage individually singing a section of the song and we act like divas as we're coming on and we push each other out of the way and have fun with that," Cole says. "It lets people know this is not a serious concert; that it's a fun concert."
Before holding its first auditions in December 2007, Cole says she was partly inspired by none other than the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. In particular, Cole was captivated by Brown's cape routine while performing "Please, Please, Please."
"He keeps singing this phrase over and over again and his band comes out take him offstage and he breaks away from it and keeps singing it and he just makes it a diva moment," Cole says.
Like Brown, Cole says the 7 Sopranos waste little time talking during their 50-minute set. Although they may play up many of the diva stereotypes, Cole says the group has evolved into a team effort.
"They know music. They all have master's degrees and they know what they're doing," Cole says. "I'll present an idea and I've got six other inputs, so the ending may not be anything like the beginning, but all of the input, the brainstorming and the choreography — it's exciting."