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SEEN
AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL OPERA REVIEW
Tchaikowsky, Yevgeny Onegin:
Soloists,
Orchestra and Chorus Sinfónica de Galicia Conductor: Miguel Gómez
Martínez, Palacio de la Ópera de Corunna. 21. 9.2008. (JMI)
Ainhoa Arteta is in splendid vocal shape and is an extraordinarily
promising singer. She has developed from the lighter soprano of her
early years and is now a full lyric soprano, who should be moving
soon into more important repertoire. Her Tatyana was totally
convincing in an authentic exhibition of vocal power. The voice runs
very easily, being fully secure in the
whole tessitura, with a very
rich top register. Add to this the fact that she is a very good actress and
little or nothing remains to be desired.
All of this came as a very pleasant
surprise indeed.
Production from Ópera Oviedo
Director: Horacio Rodríguez Aragón
Sets
and Costumes: Jesús Ruiz
Lighting: Eduardo Bravo
Cast:
Onegin: Alexei Markow, baritone
Tatyana: Ainhoa Arteta, soprano
Lenski: Ismael Jordi, tenor
Prince Gremin. Stefano Palatchi, bass
Olga: Marina Rodríguez-Cusí, mezzo
Madame Larina: Alexandra Rivas, mezzo
Filipievna: Maria Jose Trullu, mezzo
M. Triquet: Pablo Carballido, tenor
In addition to this, there was a premiere of an opera from a local
composer and concerts with Mariola Cantarero, Cristina Gallardo-Domas
and Marcello Giordani. Next year promises Puritani with
Mariella Devia and Guillaume Tell, conducted by Alberto Zedda
with a stellar cast.
The Onegin production by Horacio Rodriguez Aragón is simple
and effective, allowing the fast set changes that are very important
for this theatre. These are very traditional and pleasant sets, with
costumes that are not too flashy. The lighting was effective,
particularly in duel scene. Mr. Aragon directs both individual
actors and the chorus with skill and proves that you do not need big
names or money to offer a pleasant and persuasive production.
La Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia is one of the best in Spain and it
was a pleasure to hear them under the direction of Miguel Gómez
Martínez. He is not a very familiar opera conductor to Spanish
audiences (although he is a regular conductor in Vienna, Zurich and
Berlin), and he gave a very interesting reading - as he did three
years ago in the concert version of Onegin that he conducted
in Valencia for Ainhoa Arteta's debut as Tatyana. The Orchestra
played exceptionally well for him and he deserves much more
recognition than he gets in this country.
The protagonist was the Russian Alexei Markow, who is a remarkable
interpreter on stage, and is helped by a good figure. He is a lyric
baritone, a good singer only let down by his voice projection. The
last act showed him at his best.
Ismael Jordi offered his best interpretation so far in opera. I
would never have thought that he could be such a good Lenski, a character that
fits him like a glove. His aria literally stopped the show and was
deeply moving. Stefano Palatchi was not at the same level as Prince
Gremin: a more noble and rich voice is needed for the marvellous
aria in the last act.
In the secondary roles, Marina Rodriguez-Cusí was a
barely noticeable
Olga andPablo Carballido sang Triquet’s couplets without much
grace or particular affection for Tatyana. Maria José Trullu was a perfect
Filipievna, and would be difficult to improve on. Alexandra Rivas
was a good Madame Larina, although she was too young and beautiful
for the role: a different wig and some make up would have made her
more convincing.
The house was sold out and the public cheered loudly for Arteta,
Jordi and Gomez Martínez. After the opera the stage door was as
crowded as if a political demonstration was in progress!
Pictures ©
Ópera de Corunna
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