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NINE-YEAR-OLD
Massimo. Cusano has only

one regret about his recent:

audition for the Vancouver
Opera’ production of The
Magic Flute: that he didn’t
bet his. sister he’d get the
part. For if he had, he
would have taken her to ‘the
cleaners.

By Evelyn Jacob
News Reporter

“When IT went to the audition |
didn’t know I'd be auditioning for
a singing role so | asked my mom
and she told. me to sing Oh,
Canada. .

“I went upstairs to the piano to
find the proper key, and my sister
‘walked in and said, ‘You'll never
make it.’-I laughed in her face
when | was picked,’ bragged the
precocious Grade § Holy Trinity
student, who stands all of four
foot five.

Cusano and 12-year-old Coll-
ingwood student Brett Pendleton
are still celebrating over their
good fortune at having been pick-

ed. from 40 Lower: Mainland ©

young singers to perform the role
. of the spirits in. the VOA produc-
‘tion. :
As’ -the, ethereal apparitions,
Cusano..and Pendleton guide the
principal : characters,. Tamino and

Pamina,: through the long journey -

of life towards perfection.
- Both boys are equally qualified

NEWS photo Cindy Goodman’
MASSIMO CUSANO (left) and Brett Pendieton of North Vancouver are starring in the Vancouver

Opera production of The Magic Flute, which opens Jan.30 and runs until Feb.8.

for the part: Cusano sings in the
B.C. Boys Choir and Pendleton,
who also plays the violin, sings in
the Vancouver Bach Choir — not
to mention their, growing | screen
: experience. .

Both, however, have quite dif-
‘ferent takes on what it will be like
to stand before a sea of people on

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opening night.

“Pm a little nervous,
Cusano,

“Not me,’ interjects a self-
assured Pendleton. ‘‘l’ve done it

”

admits

before “in front of hundreds of.

people.”
(Both boys performed in the
VOA. production of. Tosca last

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Carrol Anne Curry, the VOA’s
director of artistic administration,
says the spirit roles are. ‘‘very
much principal roles.

“There are’ no ‘B’ roles in
Mozart’s operas,’” she points out.

As such, Cusano and Pendleton
will be subjected to an intense

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44 The best thing
about rehearsing is
swinging by the
Subway sandwich
stop ... 99

_ Grett Pendleton

rehearsal schedule’ leading up to
the Jan. 30. opening. But
Pendleton is quick to note that it
hasn't been all work and no play.

“The best. thing about rehears-
ing is swinging by. the Subway
sandwich stop before heading
home across the bridge,’’ he says
with a wide grin.

Stull, given the choice between
singing in an opera and writing ‘‘I
will not ...’"" on the board 100
times, it’s clear that few kids their
age would choose an 18th century
Singspiel opera. De .

Cusano says ‘most of. his
schoolmates are plain indifferent
about his upcoming performance.

“They don’t think it’s bad, but
they don’t go to the opera or hear
much of it."”

“Some. people in- my grade

‘don’t. think opera ‘is very impor-

adds Pendleton. ‘‘They

See Both page 40

tant,””

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