Opera Review
– Dec. 03/01
OPERA IN
CONCERT – "LA STRANIERA"
To commemorate
the 200th anniversary of the birth of Vincenzo Bellini, Opera in
Concert opened its season at the Jane Mallett Theatre on Sunday with the
composer’s little known fourth opera, "La Straniera" written in
1829. Music director Sandra Horst, making her 0 in C debut, tried to invest the
singing with a bel canto sense of style, and, for the most part, succeeded. Her
piano playing was certainly accomplished, if a little restrained. Once again,
chorus master Robert Cooper produced a fairly light sound, despite some
rambunctious bases and baritones.
Tenor Stuart
Howe as Arturo is a shining talent with marvellous phrasing, a gorgeous legato
line, and a real sense of style, ltaliante sob and all, although his does
display a breathy growl at the beginning of some of his lines. Mezzo-soprano
Anita Krause as Isoletta presented a beautifully polished voice that is at once
crystalline yet warm. Young soprano Frederique Vezina as Agnese, only
23-years-old, had sonic difficulties with some of her top notes, and while her
voice is not the prettiest, it is dramatic and expressive, and more to the
point, has the necessary lower register and dramatic coloratura for bel canto.
She’s one to Watch. Baritone Sung Taek Chung as Leopoldo has a vibrato to
contend with and so was better in the more emotional vocal line when he could
inject power into the words. Of the chorus members playing small roles, bass
Giles Tomkins shows real promise.
I’m Paula
Citron, arts reviewer for CLASSICAL 96.3 FM.