Quinn Kelsey triumphs inside Opera Philadelphia’s Simon Boccanegra
For the Simon Boccanegra, an ordinary guy possess success thrust up on him, conference his eventual dying thanks to good confluence from future and you will scenario. Along the way, the guy will lose and you may regains good child, quashes a revolution otherwise a couple, and you will unites Italy with his passing away breath. Of numerous listeners revere Verdi’s masterful rating if you’re additionally sniffing at convoluted plot, but Laurence Dale’s production getting Opera Philadelphia’s Festival O23 renders a great persuasive instance towards the work’s remarkable unity.
The fresh new movie director have the period intentionally unclear, with imposing kits by Gary McCann you to subtly highly recommend an effective fascist artistic. One analysis may seem a little unjust into label character – one who’s ethical towards the core, even if he don’t entirely steer clear of the trappings of autocracy – it underscores the fact you to definitely person’s saving grace is actually another’s tyrant. Dale employs more-textual gadgets that accentuate the new backstory instead opposing Piave and you may Boito’s libretto. The new director and artists perform an admirable quantity of specificity inside storytelling, considering the broad expanses of your Academy out-of Music’s phase and the newest opera’s from time to time fixed stretches.
It’s possible to pay attention to during the Taylor’s voice the possibility to improve to the a beneficial Verdi baritone within his own correct
From the gap, Corrado Rovaris unflaggingly supporting the experience onstage if you find yourself confirming the fresh perfection of one’s rating, beginning with feminine textures on stately prelude. Towards the end of one’s Prologue, where Boccanegra try elevated so you’re able to Doge away from Genoa, the guy whips this new band to your a good phantasmagorical madness, and that complements brand new severe vocal of the plebian chorus. (Opera Philadelphia chorus learn E Braden continues to performs magic with her forces – I’d hate to shed their in your neighborhood, however, she can be within the contention on soon-to-end up being vacant Urban Opera concert.) Throughout the evening, Rovaris produces one tune in to familiar audio that have brand new ears, as the as he ravishingly layers the fresh new chain, gusts of wind and you can percussion into the “Have quest’ora bruna” – at exactly the same time and also make Verdi sound like this new progenitor out-of one another Debussy and you may Berg.
To have his first trip in the title role, Quinn Kelsey continues to burnish their bona fides as premier Verdi baritone from their age bracket. Regardless if the guy never ever struggled that have singing projection, he preferred lyricism throughout the, shading his melting legato vocal with recommendations old and you may indecision as opposed to barking traces to supply Boccanegra’s installing emotional worry. His last utterances sounded rightly haunted, no matter if their strong tonal charm stayed. Towards assistance of Fernand Ruiz’s garments, he shown his character’s progression off easy corsair to huge leader, and on the opera’s later on serves, he reminded the audience one Boccanegra continues to be a generally an effective guy in the his center.
Soprano Ana Maria Martinez lacked a few of the hallelia, the fresh child out-of Boccanegra that is increased from the his archenemy, Jacopo Fiesco. Try not to anticipate ethereally floated high notes or a specific expansiveness out-of tone. A small overcome crept into the Martinez’s voice from the times, also, however, full, she brought a smart and you may highly audio translation of an effective Verdi woman who’ll sometimes come across as pretty and you may vacant. Their own Amelia are headstrong and you will confidant, whether or not it’s difficult to appreciate what pulls their to Richard Trey Smagur’s hooty, overacted Gabriele Adorno.
Inside a beautiful continual moment, a white-gowned supernumerary haunts new periphery as Boccanegra’s later partner and you may Amelia’s mother; she ultimately guides Simon to the afterlife
Christian Van Horn cut a regal, dignified contour due to the fact Fiesco, whilst character is an enthusiastic octave or so beneath https://gorgeousbrides.net/fr/filles-vietnamiennes-chaudes-et-sexy/ the spirits region out of his basically lyric bass-baritone. As the Paolo Albiani, Boccanegra’s turncoat mentor, baritone Benjamin Taylor are a knowledge, raining acres regarding plangent audio into the exactly what could easily be a good standard-situation villain.