SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

Verdi, Nabucco: Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra of Teatro Argentino. Conductor: Alejo Pérez, Teatro Argentino, La Plata, Buenos Aires 6.11.2009 (JSJ)

Director: María Concepción Perre (original concept by Marga Niec)

Sets/lighting: Enrique Bordolini

Costumes: Imme Möller

Chorus: Miguel Fabián Martínez

Cast:

Abigaille: Susan Neves / Florencia Fabris

Nabucco: Jorge Lagunes / Lisandro Guinis

Zaccaria: Homero Pérez Miranda / Mario De Salvo

Ismael: Enrique Folger / Pablo Skrt

Fenena: Cecilia Díaz / Alicia Cecotti

Anna: Sonia Schiller / Gabriela Bulich

High Priest of Baal: Mario de Salvo / Oreste Chlopecki

Abdal: Sergio Spina / Felipe Castillo

From left: Jorge Lagunes (Nabucco), Homero Pérez Miranda (Zaccaria), Enrique Folger (Ismael) and Cecilia Díaz (Fenena), Susan Neves (Abigaille)

For its final opera of the season the Teatro Argentino opted for Verdi’s Nabucco – a work which, remarkably, has been staged only once before at the theatre, in its 1964 season. As it was this new production nearly didn’t come off, having first been postponed from last season and then under threat in this one, but it made it in the end and the audience were appreciative.

As a production it was very traditional in concept and design, with evocative settings and dress, supported with judicious lighting. But this is a dark and dramatic work, requiring singers to match, and in this the production was only partially successful. Susan Neves, in good voice, was an intense and commanding Abigaille. However, while both Cuban/Chilean Homero Pérez Miranda as Zaccaria and Mexican Jorge Lagunes as Nabucco sung well and soundly, neither came across with the necessary authority or drama.

Enrique Folger was entirely satisfactory as Ismael, as was Cecilia Díaz as Fenena, and Mario de Salvo as the High Priest and Sergio Spina as Abdal acquitted themselves well. The musical direction was under the hand of Alejo Pérez and he provided a lively reading. The off-stage orchestra was well co-ordinated and the chorus, so important in this work, were generally good. Let us hope the next production of Nabucco in La Plata will not be as long coming as was this one.

Caption: From left: Jorge Lagunes (Nabucco), Homero Pérez Miranda (Zaccaria), Enrique Folger (Ismael) and Cecilia Díaz (Fenena), Susan Neves (Abigaille).

Jonathan Spencer Jones

Picture courtesy of Juventus Lyrica, Buenos Aires