Into the Simon Boccanegra, a regular man keeps wonder thrust up on him, conference his ultimate passing through a confluence regarding destiny and you may scenario. In the act, the guy manages to lose and you will regains an effective daughter, quashes a trend or one or two, and you may unites Italy with his perishing breathing. Of numerous listeners revere Verdi’s masterful score if you are at exactly the same time sniffing on convoluted patch, but Laurence Dale’s creation to own Opera Philadelphia’s Festival O23 tends to make a great compelling situation towards the work’s dramatic unity.
The fresh new manager has the period intentionally unclear, that have towering set by Gary McCann that subtly recommend an excellent fascist visual. You to testing may appear some unjust on the identity character – a person that is ethical for the key, no matter if the guy usually do not entirely avoid the trappings of autocracy – however it underscores the point that you to definitely man or woman’s savior is actually another’s tyrant. Dale employs even more-textual gadgets you to complement brand new backstory versus opposing Piave and you will Boito’s libretto. The fresh manager and you may writers and singers create an admirable number of specificity in the storytelling, considering the large expanses of your Academy regarding Music’s phase and you may the fresh opera’s from time to time fixed stretches.
One could listen to during the Taylor’s sound the possibility to change to your good Verdi baritone within his individual correct
Regarding the pit, Corrado Rovaris unflaggingly aids the experience onstage when you find yourself guaranteeing brand new brilliance of the get, beginning with female designs throughout the stately prelude. Towards the end of your own Prologue, in which Boccanegra are elevated in order to Doge off Genoa, he whips this new band to the a beneficial phantasmagorical madness, and therefore complements the latest serious vocal of plebian chorus. (Opera Philadelphia chorus learn E Braden continues to works wonders with their pushes – I would personally dislike to get rid of their particular locally, but she is within the contention toward in the future-to-end up being unused Metropolitan Opera gig.) Regarding the night, Rovaris helps make one pay attention to familiar music having brand new ears, as the as he ravishingly levels the chain, wind gusts and percussion within the “Have been in quest’ora bruna” – as well and also make Verdi sound like the brand new progenitor off one another Debussy and you can Berg.
Getting 1st outing on title role, Quinn Kelsey continues to burnish his bona fides once the prominent Verdi baritone out-of their generation. Even though he never ever struggled which have vocal projection, the guy preferred lyricism during, shading his melting legato singing that have recommendations of age and you may indecision in place of barking contours to deliver Boccanegra’s installing psychological worry. Their latest utterances sounded rightly haunted, no matter if their powerful tonal charm remained. Into assistance of Fernand Ruiz’s clothes, the guy displayed his character’s progression off simple corsair to help you huge leader, and you can from the opera’s afterwards serves, the guy reminded the audience one to Boccanegra has been a fundamentally a guy at the his center.
Soprano Ana Maria Martinez lacked utiliser un lien some of the hallelia, the newest daughter away from Boccanegra who’s elevated by the his archenemy, Jacopo Fiesco. Don’t anticipate ethereally floated large cards otherwise a certain expansiveness away from build. A slight overcome crept toward Martinez’s sound during the minutes, also, but complete, she introduced an intelligent and very songs interpretation from a Verdi woman who can from time to time look pretty and you can vacant. Her Amelia is headstrong and you can confidant, though it’s difficult to appreciate just what draws her in order to Richard Trey Smagur’s hooty, overacted Gabriele Adorno.
Inside a pleasant repeating second, a white-gowned supernumerary haunts new periphery given that Boccanegra’s later partner and you can Amelia’s mother; she eventually prospects Simon to the afterlife
Christian Van Horn reduce a royal, dignified figure just like the Fiesco, whilst part consist a keen octave roughly below the morale zone regarding their basically lyric trout-baritone. Since Paolo Albiani, Boccanegra’s turncoat advisor, baritone Benjamin Taylor is a breakthrough, pouring miles regarding plangent musical with the what could easily be good standard-situation villain.
