Quinn Kelsey triumphs inside Opera Philadelphia’s Simon Boccanegra
When you look at the Simon Boccanegra, a regular man has success push up on him, meeting their ultimate demise courtesy an effective confluence out-of future and you can circumstance. In the act, he will MariГ©es Polonais lose and you may regains a good daughter, quashes a trend or several, and you will unites Italy together with perishing breath. Of numerous listeners revere Verdi’s masterful get while on the other hand sniffing within convoluted spot, however, Laurence Dale’s production getting Opera Philadelphia’s Event O23 produces a great persuasive instance into work’s remarkable unity.
The fresh new director has that point purposefully vague, with towering set by Gary McCann you to definitely subtly strongly recommend a fascist aesthetic. One to comparison might seem slightly unfair on the term profile – men that is moral for the key, even when the guy dont entirely prevent the trappings away from autocracy – but it underscores the reality that one to man or woman’s saving grace is another’s tyrant. Dale makes use of additional-textual products you to complement the new backstory in place of opposing Piave and you will Boito’s libretto. The new manager and you may artists create an enthusiastic admirable amount of specificity within the storytelling, due to the wider expanses of your Academy out of Music’s stage and you can the new opera’s occasionally static stretches.
It’s possible to tune in to from inside the Taylor’s sound the potential to change on the a good Verdi baritone inside the own best
On gap, Corrado Rovaris unflaggingly aids the experience onstage while confirming the fresh new perfection of one’s score, you start with feminine designs on the stately prelude. By the end of your Prologue, where Boccanegra is actually elevated in order to Doge out of Genoa, the guy whips the orchestra towards the a phantasmagorical frenzy, which complements the severe vocal of the plebian chorus. (Opera Philadelphia chorus master Age Braden continues to work miracle that have their forces – I would hate to shed their own locally, however, she would be into the contention for the in the future-to-feel unused Metropolitan Opera concert.) About nights, Rovaris renders you to pay attention to familiar sounds which have brand new ears, since as he ravishingly layers the fresh chain, gusts of wind and percussion within the “Are in quest’ora bruna” – simultaneously and also make Verdi sound like brand new progenitor of one another Debussy and you can Berg.
For 1st trip on identity character, Quinn Kelsey will continue to burnish his bona fides because the premier Verdi baritone of their age bracket. Even if he never struggled that have vocal projection, the guy best lyricism while in the, shading his melting legato vocal which have information old and indecision in the place of barking outlines in order to Boccanegra’s mounting emotional worry. Their latest utterances sounded appropriately haunted, no matter if his sturdy tonal beauty stayed. Into the help of Fernand Ruiz’s outfits, the guy presented their character’s advancement out-of simple corsair to help you grand leader, and you will in the opera’s later on serves, the guy reminded the viewers one to Boccanegra remains a generally a great man in the his key.
Soprano Ana Maria Martinez lacked a few of the hallelia, new child out of Boccanegra that is elevated because of the his archenemy, Jacopo Fiesco. Try not to anticipate ethereally floated large notes or a certain expansiveness off tone. A little overcome crept with the Martinez’s voice at the moments, too, however, total, she delivered an intelligent and you may very songs translation regarding good Verdi woman who’ll occasionally look very and empty. Their particular Amelia is headstrong and you will confidant, whether or not it’s hard in order to comprehend exactly what draws their unique in order to Richard Trey Smagur’s hooty, overacted Gabriele Adorno.
During the a pleasant repeated moment, a light-gowned supernumerary haunts the new periphery since Boccanegra’s late wife and you will Amelia’s mother; she in the course of time guides Simon towards afterlife
Religious Van Horn cut a regal, dignified profile because the Fiesco, although the character sits an enthusiastic octave or more beneath the spirits area off their generally lyric trout-baritone. Just like the Paolo Albiani, Boccanegra’s turncoat advisor, baritone Benjamin Taylor are a discovery, pouring miles from plangent sounds to the what could easily be an effective standard-question villain.