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Cav & Pag Double Bill
Date of Show:
Saturday, 4th September 2010 (All day)
Venue:
Athenaeum Theatre Melbourne Opera have raised their already high standard yet again with the classic double bill Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci. Singers, orchestra, and settings combine for a thrilling night of high-class entertainment.
Adding to the style of the evening is the newly refurbished Athenaeum Theatre. Plush red velour seats, new carpet and fresh paint complement the new orchestra pit, first used in The Barber of Seville earlier this year. Backstage reportedly boasts new dressing rooms and a new fly system. The intimate size of the Athenaeum allows the audience to feel closely connected to the cast, and the sound is glorious.Melbourne Opera continues to be an impressive enterprise with countless sponsors and benefactors listed in the program. A Melbourne Opera opening night is a gala event indeed. Cav and Pag will tour to ten theatres in three states.
Director Hugh Halliday has elicited committed, authentic performances from his casts, maintaining the tension and menace throughout both operas very effectively.
Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) opens the evening. Beneath a blue sky lies the weathered church and inn of a small Italian village. Young soldier Turiddu (Roy Best) has returned to find his fiancée Lola (Selena Pettifer) married to Alfio (Gary Rowley). Resuming his romance with Lola, Turiddu breaks the heart of Santuzza (Danielle Calder), now excommunicated from the close-knit church community for her pregnancy out of wedlock.
Best is in excellent form, his charming likeability heightening the impending tragedy. Rowley’s sonorous bass voice and devilish dark colouring add menace to his portrayal. Jenny Wakefield (Mama Lucia) exudes strength and warmth.Calder deserves the highest praise for her breakout performance. Gorgeous and gracious, her beautiful soprano voice is a pleasure to hear. A generous, talented actress as well, Calder elevates the work of each of the performers who are fortunate enough to play opposite her.
More than forty players strong, the Melbourne Opera Orchestra are in their element with the rich, melodious music. Conductor Greg Hocking maintains a sure hand, even for the off stage singing. Matthew Toogood takes the baton for Pagliacci, leading an equally assured rendition of the score.
Another highlight of both operas is the superb work of the massive Melbourne Opera Chorus and Children’s Chorus. Well costumed and strongly focused, their singing is nothing short of divine. They added immensely to the enjoyment and success of the evening.
Pagliacci features a second, distinct setting from creative designer Andrew Bellchambers. Silky curtains adorn the makeshift stage of a troupe of traveling players. The clever, pacy plot sees Canio (David Rogers Smith) demand from his wife Nedda (Kerry Gill) the name of her lover. When the same occurs in the ‘play’ he snaps, with tragic results.
Rogers Smith is at the top of his game, using the incredible strength of his tenor voice to full effect. Playing a man spiraling out of control, he was in full control at all times, commanding the stage with a fully realised performance. The classic aria ‘Vesti la giubba’ was superb.
Doing double duty, Rowley took on the flawed character of hunchback Tonio. His acting as strong as his singing, Rowley captures the sympathetic yet manipulative Tonio, who propels the action to its climax.
The Gill is dependably lovely, and is well supported by Phillip Calcagno as Silvio, Nedda’s lover. Michael Lapina is a crowd favourite as the cheeky Beppe.
Apart from Opera Australia, whic has massive budget and funding, Melbourne Opera has presented the most entertaining opera to be seen in Melbourne all year. November’s Madame Butterfly is highly anticipated.
Photos: Robin Halls (1&3); David Wyatt (2&4)
State:
VIC