| | La Scena Musicale - Vol. 4, No. 5 |  | | Lyric Opera of Chicago by Philip Anson
/ February 1, 1999
Version française...
Every year the Lyric Opera of Chicago
( www.lyricopera.org ) sells over 100% of its
capacity, and its easy to see why. Production values are among the highest in the world,
with superb sets and costumes, exquisite attention to detail, and thorough dramatic
preparation. The LOC production of Levy’s Mourning Becomes Elektra (seen
October 22, 1998) was the best new opera production I’ve seen in years. The
museum-quality sets and dramatically flawless direction by Liviu Ciulei were a model of
what lyric theatre should be. The cast was solid gold, led by red-headed American soprano
Lauren Flanagan as the adulterous Christine Mannon and Cynthia Lawrence as her
Elektra-complexed sister Lavinia. The rest of the cast was strong, including Canadian
baritone Brett Polegato in the small role of Peter Niles. Ponchielli’s La Gioconda
(seen October 23, 1998) is a turgid melodrama saved by some wonderful vocal pyrotechnics.
British soprano Jane Eaglen blasted her way through the title role. She warmed up by Act 4
and gave a respectable "Suicidio!" As Enzo, tenor Johan Botha deployed a huge,
steady, clear, slightly nasal tenor, definitely one of tomorrow’s superstars. Russian
bass Nikolai Putilin was a reliably beefy Barnabas. Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf
Naxos (seen Oct. 24, 1998) starred the inimitable Debora Voigt as Ariadne, Susan
Graham as the Composer, and promising young tenor Jon Villars as Bacchus. Canadian Russell
Braun sang Harlequin and his father Victor sang the Music Master. Laura Aiken was a fine
Zerbinetta, but not in the league of Natalie Dessay.
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