NABUCCO at YORKTOWN, NYS

NABUCCO performed by the TACONIC Opera

of Yorktown, New York State

October 23rd, 2011.

Little Compton.

Excellent performance of Nabucco yesterday afternoon with the Taconic Opera of Yorktown, New York State. The company will be at the SUNY / Purchase (NYS) stage this coming weekend. I recommend highly this production: all should go and listen. Check the link below for details.

Yesterday’s cast was in top form, headed by Rosa d'Imperio (Abigaille) and Stefanos Koroneos (Nabucco): both sang their grandiose roles filled with pathos, using their impeccable technical means and musical knowledge intelligently, to bring forth the drama. Their duet of the third act was one of TITANS . Jorge Ocasio as Zaccaria, was also a good choice for this company: his meaningful phrasing and gorgeous low register earned him a big hand in the prayer of the third act. Tenor Jin Ho Hwang sang Ismaele with vibrant voice.

One piece of advice I permit myself to give these young singers is one my teacher, Tenor Pier Miranda Ferraro, gave me one day long time ago: “We sing the culture, and the culture is given to us in the language...” In other words: the specificity of what we are doing is to be found in the text. And how we put it across is extremely important. So, although a very satisfying performance from everyone’s part, we all need to pay attention to that very important tool of our craft, and which we generally forget: the language and its effective, theatrical use.

Maestro Jun Nakabayashi did an excellent job accompanying the singers in this excruciatingly difficult score.

The sets were modest, nevertheless so beautifully conceived and executed, that during the time spent in the theatre one could really feel transported to the moment and place specified in the score. 

What was important about this performance, about this company I should say, is that the music, through the singing, told the drama, as it should be.

Bravo Maestro Montez, for keeping this precious art form in its proper context. And thank you also for a performance that I will not forget. http://www.taconicopera.org/index.html

Francisco Chahin-Casanova 

www.vermusicaltd.com

www.veramusicaltd.com dedicated to excellence