Così fan tutte, 2006
Photo: J. Reeder
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Review: Così fan tutte
"Così fan tutte"
Opera News (David Shengold)
online edition
New Jersey Opera Theater has been carving a name for itself within the last few years, with extensive touring and schoolwork allied to a July-based festival residency in Princeton. Their pleasing Così Fan Tutte (seen July 13), the third of four performances in the McCarter's intimate Berlind Theatre, bespoke thoughtful musical preparation and generally high ambitions. For now it is a festival in the sense not of Glimmerglass or Aix but of the small English summer companies that offer highly respectable, enjoyable stagings of (mainly) standard repertory, with young professional and apprentice singers augmented by one or two more established guest artists.
Ron Kadri's simple, apt period sets allowed director Albert Sherman to maintain a nice, flowing pace.... One fine idea, new to me at least: Alfonso graciously led the sisters in Blind Man's Buff-style to hear the suitors' serenata. Barry Steele's beautiful lighting made a major contribution towards establishing a credible Mediterranean atmosphere....
The sisters were warmly and amusingly portrayed; at the final curtain, the question posed was whether they would forgive the men. Strongest among the singers was the Fiordiligi of Emily Newton, stinting nothing technically, her attractive soprano leant character and scope by a light vibrato. Fenna Ograjensek (Dorabella) sang with fluidity and charm. Elizabeth Russ proved a true soubrette ... in voice and manner, with enough spunky charm to put across the "Ur-Despina" business — think air dusting — assigned her.... Fabián Robles's bright, narrow tenor negotiated Ferrando's tessitura with aplomb... Matthew Curran proved an amusing Alfonso, convincingly playing older than his years.
The Summerfest also included L'elisir d'amore and a double bill of Gianni Schicchi and Michael Ching's Buoso's Ghost. Next year NJOT steps up to the McCarter's larger venue; March's semi-staged Turandot, featuring Sharon Sweet (returning to opera after an absence of some seasons) and Allan Glassmann, will appear there and in New Brunswick's State Theatre.
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