ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 17, 1996 TAG: 9601170015
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM STAFF WRITER
Being a lute player is a little like being an expert in eight-track tape player repair. It's a fine thing to know how to do, but your services don't get called upon all that often.
A couple of Virginia lutists, however, will get a chance to wield their ancient axes Friday and Saturday evenings when they accompany the orchestra for Opera Roanoke's production of Henry Purcell's ``Dido & Aneas'' at Roanoke College's Olin Hall.
Because this is an English Baroque opera - sung, of course, English - it only made sense to bring in period instruments, like the lute and the Baroque guitar.
``The story,'' an Opera Roanoke news release says, ``concerns the ill-fated romance of the title characters, which is thwarted by the machinations of a sorceress and her evil companions.'' Can't have thwarting and machinations and a sorceress without a lute or two, now can you?
``There's nothing like it. Nothing like the sound of a good lute,'' says lutist Bill Krause. Krause will join Robert Trent, who plays lute and Baroque guitar, for the performances.
Trent describes the lute as a kind of round-back mandolin, though it generally has a lot more strings. Krause's instrument has 17.
It has a ``bright, clean, bouyant sound,'' according to the musician.
The Baroque guitar looks like a regular guitar, only smaller, and it has paired strings. It's played in a ``pluck and strum'' style.
Trent says many people hearing it the first time say it sounds like a combination of folk-style fingering and flamenco-style strumming.
Trent is an assistant professor of music at Radford University. Krause is executive director of the Piedmont Arts Association in Martinsville.
``You'd think we would have found each other by now,'' Krause said, but he and Trent had never met before they started rehearsing this month. For that matter, you'd think every lutist and Baroque guitarist on the planet would have met by now.
If there's one area where their paths might cross, it's in the search for lute strings. They aren't exactly regular inventory for the average music shop.
``It's a hassle,'' says Krause. ``There's one person in Santa Fe that seems to have a corner on the market.'' And she gets them from Germany. In contrast, Krause says there are plenty of lute makers. Few lutists play actual Renaissance instruments. Unlike violins, lutes haven't proved to be very durable.
Both Krause and Trent will be playing reproduction instruments for the opera.
This is Opera Roanoke's first Baroque opera. The production features Patricia Campbell and Wayne Kompelien, both of Lynchburg in the title roles, as well as members of the Radford Universty Dance Department and a chorus made up of members of the Roanoke Chamber Singers and the Opera Roanoke Chorus.
Besides accompaniment, Trent and Krause will play a few duets for dancers on stage. Krause says the music is catchy stuff.
``You're going to go out of there humming all of these tunes,'' he said.
``Dido & Aneas'' 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Olin Hall, Roanoke College
For tickets, call the Opera Roanoke office, 982-2742.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: WAYNE DEEL/Staff. Bill Krause (left) will perform on theby CNBlute, and Robert
Trent on the Baroque guitar, in Opera Roanoke's production of ``Dido
& Aneas.'' color.