(2009-02-17) Michael Willett
The four Boston Opera Collaborative performances of Handel's Alcina this weekend at the Mass Art auditorium in Boston were spectacular, with enthusiastic audiences enjoying some top singing.
BOSTON--February 17, 2009--The four Boston Opera Collaborative performances of Handel's Alcina this weekend at Mass Art in Boston were spectacular, with enthusiastic audiences enjoying some top singing. This 1735 Handel opera is so enjoyable when listened to on recordings such as that by Joan Sutherland, or the Renee Fleming version, but with such a good set, lavish costumes, and the visuals of the six highly polished Boston Ballet dancers, Alcina was worth going to live in Boston much more than once. As some of the roles were double cast with top singers in each cast, it was in fact worth going to at least two or three times. The six main roles were all double cast with top Boston opera singers, the creme de la creme.
Opening night starred Leah Hungerford as Alcina and the talented Emily Burr ( http://www.emilyburrsoprano.com )as Morgana. Kathryn McKellar ( http://www.KathrynMcKellar.com )did very well in the role of Oberto, as did the mustached Kristina Riegle ( http://www.KristinaRiegle.com )in the well-disguised pants role of Ruggiero. Brooke Larimer ( http://www.brookelarimer.com )sang the key role of Bradamante beautifully, and Christopher Aaron Smith was Oronte. Adrian Packel sang a strong Melisso.
Friday's and Sunday's performances were sung splendidly by Dana Schnitzer ( http://www.danaschnitzer.com )as Alcina, the talented Sara Ann Mitchell as Morgana, Rene Hites as Oberto, a mustached Christina Calamaio as Ruggiero, Amanda Robie as Bradamante, Kevin Hayden as Oronte, and Sepp Hammer as Melisso. Like the first cast, this second cast was outstanding.
It seems likely that some or many of these young opera professionals will end up at the Met or La Scala fairly soon.
The small Tower Auditorium at Mass
Art, 621 Huntington Avenue, just a couple of blocks from the Museum of Fine Arts, is ideal for opera. Every seat is close up and the acoustics are excellent. For those New England (and New York) opera fans who were not able to attend any of these rare performances of Alcina, their next best choice would now be to acquire the Alcina recordings by Joan Sutherland, Renee Fleming, and Boston Early Music Festival favorite Karina Gauvin.
The impressive historical orchestra consisted of a period harpsichord played admirably by Paul Cienniwa, baroque violins, a baroque viola, a baroque cello, and a violone (baroque bass), all creating a delightful chamber ensemble. The chamber ensemble, which Handel would certainly have applauded vigorously, also included Tatiana Daubek and Adriane Post playing the baroque violins, Harold Lieberman playing the baroque viola, Audrey Cienniwa on the baroque cello, and Andrew Arceci on the violene.
Rounding out the performance was a strong 11-member ensemble of established singers.
Oh, what a weekend it was!
###
Willett Corporate Communications
http://www.willettcorpcomm.com
Tel. 781-729-7940
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