In the thoroughly modern Ecosciences
Precinct by the Boggo Road Gaol, Opera Oceania honoured the 200th
birthday of Maestro Giuseppe Verdi with their production Viva Verdi.
The repertoire was a selection of some of Verdi’s
best-known arias from opera such as Rigoletto and La Traviata with a few surprises
from Otello and Il Trovatore. Fortunately, each aria was preceded by a short explanation
for those amongst the audience who were not clear on their overly-complicated
opera plots.
In such a no-nonsense venue, accompanied
only by a piano keyboard (played expertly by John Woods) the audience can truly
appreciate the magnificence of the human voice. With no orchestra to hide
faults or override the pianissimo passages there is only the voice and the
words for the opera-loving audience to appreciate.
As a venue, the Ecosciences Precinct
certainly had the soaring ceilings reminiscent of concert halls but the all-glass
surrounds and overhanging walkways did no favours to the Soprano and
Mezzo-Soprano in particular. Joshua Rowe, Baritone, put on the performance of
the day with 'Per me giunto รจ il di supremo' from Don Carlos. His magnificent
tone did not disappear into the glass walls and he imbued the aria with tragic emotion
as the dying Rodrigo.
Viva Verdi was produced by Opera Oceania.
You can find out more about them through their Facebook page.
Review of Viva
Verdi presented as part of the 2013 Anywhere Theatre Festival.
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