May 25, 2008
Rossini has long been one of my favourite composers and it is always good to see local amateur companies taking on the challenge of his technically demanding music. OTO should be congratulated for having the courage to stage this production.
I saw the performance given at the Holywell Music Room – which is not really best suited to the theatrical presentation of complete operas. The staging had been reworked but occasionally looked cramped and slightly clunky.
Musically-speaking, things were on safer ground. James Longstaffe conducted his own arrangement of the score with confidence and a proper understanding of the lightness of touch required for this composer. The small ensemble of musicians played well – though the balance between instruments and voices was not always perfect.
Rossini had a love affair with the mezzo soprano voice and wrote some of his best music to showcase it. Katherine Cooper showed herself to be ideally suited to this fach – she has the control and technique necessary to shine. Her characterisation and stage presence were spot on for the title role – full of spirit and life.
The other stand-out performance came from Tom West as Taddeo. His words were always clear, his tuning precise and his acting entertaining. Diction is always especially important when singing opera in translation and it is always a delight to hear things clearly enunciated by a talented young singer. The rest of the cast are certainly not poor. They each have good voices and are able to tackle their roles with commendable enthusiasm.
The plot is silly – even by operatic standards – but the music is great and that alone is enough for me – and most music lovers, I would imagine.
I saw the performance given at the Holywell Music Room – which is not really best suited to the theatrical presentation of complete operas. The staging had been reworked but occasionally looked cramped and slightly clunky.
Musically-speaking, things were on safer ground. James Longstaffe conducted his own arrangement of the score with confidence and a proper understanding of the lightness of touch required for this composer. The small ensemble of musicians played well – though the balance between instruments and voices was not always perfect.
Rossini had a love affair with the mezzo soprano voice and wrote some of his best music to showcase it. Katherine Cooper showed herself to be ideally suited to this fach – she has the control and technique necessary to shine. Her characterisation and stage presence were spot on for the title role – full of spirit and life.
The other stand-out performance came from Tom West as Taddeo. His words were always clear, his tuning precise and his acting entertaining. Diction is always especially important when singing opera in translation and it is always a delight to hear things clearly enunciated by a talented young singer. The rest of the cast are certainly not poor. They each have good voices and are able to tackle their roles with commendable enthusiasm.
The plot is silly – even by operatic standards – but the music is great and that alone is enough for me – and most music lovers, I would imagine.