When you look at the Simon Boccanegra, a regular people provides greatness thrust on him, conference their ultimate demise due to a good confluence out-of fate and you will circumstances. Along the way, the guy seems to lose and you can regains an excellent child, quashes a wave or a couple, and you may unites Italy together with perishing air. Many listeners revere Verdi’s masterful score when you’re concurrently sniffing at convoluted area, but Laurence Dale’s production having Opera Philadelphia’s Event O23 tends to make a good compelling case with the work’s remarkable unity.
The latest movie director enjoys the period purposefully obscure, having imposing kits by the Gary McCann you to subtly highly recommend a beneficial fascist aesthetic. That evaluation may seem a little unfair on identity profile – a person that is ethical on key, in the event he dont completely prevent the trappings away from autocracy – but it underscores that that individuals savior was another’s tyrant. Dale makes use of a lot more-textual products one to coordinate the brand new backstory instead contradicting Piave and you can Boito’s libretto. The fresh new movie director and you will artisans manage an admirable quantity of specificity within the storytelling, because of the large expanses of one’s Academy of Music’s stage and you can the newest opera’s from time to time static extends.
One can possibly pay attention to in Taylor’s voice the possibility to change on the an effective Verdi baritone in the very own right
On gap, Corrado Rovaris unflaggingly supporting the action onstage if you find yourself guaranteeing this new perfection of score, beginning with feminine finishes throughout the stately prelude. Towards the end of the Prologue, where Boccanegra is actually raised to Doge out of Genoa, the guy whips the brand new band towards the a phantasmagorical frenzy, and that complements this new serious vocal of your own plebian chorus. (Opera Philadelphia chorus learn Elizabeth Braden will continue to really works secret that have her forces – I’d dislike to shed their in your neighborhood, but she is going to be when you look at the assertion on soon-to-be vacant Urban Opera gig.) Regarding nights, Rovaris makes you to definitely pay attention to common audio which have the fresh ears, while the as he ravishingly levels the fresh strings, wind gusts and percussion within the “Can be found in quest’ora bruna” – additionally while making Verdi sound like the newest progenitor of each other Debussy and you may Berg.
For his first getaway throughout the term character, Quinn Kelsey will continue to burnish their bona fides since the prominent Verdi baritone out of his generation. In the event he never ever battled with singing projection, femmes allemandes contre amГ©ricaines he best lyricism throughout, shading their melting legato vocal having suggestions of age and indecision in place of barking contours to give Boccanegra’s mounting mental worry. Their latest utterances sounded appropriately haunted, in the event his robust tonal beauty stayed. With the help of Fernand Ruiz’s clothes, the guy presented their character’s development regarding simple corsair so you can huge ruler, and you may regarding opera’s after acts, he reminded the audience you to definitely Boccanegra is still a fundamentally an effective people at the his center.
Soprano Ana Maria Martinez lacked a number of the hallelia, the latest daughter from Boccanegra who’s increased by their archenemy, Jacopo Fiesco. Never predict ethereally floated high notes or a specific expansiveness of build. A little defeat crept to the Martinez’s voice at the times, also, however, complete, she introduced a sensible and you may extremely musical interpretation from good Verdi heroine who will periodically appear fairly and you may unused. Her Amelia was headstrong and you can confidant, although it’s difficult to know just what attracts their unique so you’re able to Richard Trey Smagur’s hooty, overacted Gabriele Adorno.
When you look at the a lovely recurring time, a white-gowned supernumerary haunts the newest periphery because the Boccanegra’s late partner and you will Amelia’s mother; she in the course of time leads Simon to your afterlife
Religious Van Horn slash a regal, dignified contour just like the Fiesco, whilst the part lies an enthusiastic octave or so below the comfort zone away from his essentially lyric trout-baritone. Since the Paolo Albiani, Boccanegra’s turncoat mentor, baritone Benjamin Taylor are a development, pouring miles out of plangent musical on just what could easily be a great standard-matter villain.