Review: Rigoletto"Well-sung, passionate Rigoletto"Star-Ledger (Ben Finane) Morristown's versatile Community Theatre hosted a charming production of Verdi's Rigoletto on Friday night that tours this week to Princeton and New Brunswick. The production is driven by two forces, the first being Rigoletto himself, baritone Richard Zeller. Despite a pre-show complaint of sinus infection delivered by proxy, Zeller showed fine resonance and, of greater consequence, convincingly portrayed the oafish and unlikable Rigoletto as a tragic hero. This Rigoletto was at his best in moments of weighty contemplation and hapless self-pity. He was capable of great tenderness as well as a bumbling Orson Wellesian misdirected wrath. Duets with daughter Gilda, soprano Eglise Gutiérrez, were touching (especially the final "V'ho ingannato!") for their naked honesty. The second leader in this Rigoletto is the Opera New Jersey Chorus, whose courtiers exuded an Tenor John Osborn...shone in arias contemplating women ("Questo o quella," "La donna è mobile")... Gutiérrez's smooth tone suited Gilda and her deliberateness (and the orchestra's) in "Caro nome" gave In Morristown, the Opera New Jersey Orchestra found itself upstage behind a scrim with the singers and an appreciably minimal set in front. The setup lent an intimate feel to Verdi's tragedy and gave the audience a more enhanced perspective of conductor John Keenan and the musicians at work... A final standout to this Rigoletto is the sultry Maddalena, interpreted by mezzo-soprano Jeniece Golbourne, who dazzled with her singing and chemistry, and made the most of a role that can easily be a mere plot device, portraying Maddalena as an independent conspirator rather than the latest conquest of the Duke. Return to the Reviews and Articles page.
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