Music Reviews

Oct 6, 2007 - Superb music and performances adorn Nevada Opera's 40th Anniversary Concert

By Jack Neal

If life begins at 40, let’s celebrate life with great music.

That’s exactly what the Nevada Opera Association did last night (10/5/07) at Reno’s Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. In a celebratory concert lasting just short of two hours, featuring seven operatic voices of note singing over a dozen of some of opera’s greatest moments, the program was a fitting opening of the company’s 40th season.

The Nevada Opera Chorus was on hand and sang beautifully. The Nevada Opera Orchestra, kicking the event into high gear with a masterfully played Overture Verdi’s “La Forza del destino,” played impeccably throughout. The video tributes to Beverly Sills and Luciano Pavarotti, this year’s significant losses to the opera world, and to Ted and Deena Puffer, the founders of Nevada Opera, were nicely handled.

The company’s artistic director, Michael Borowitz, conducted with his usual attention to detail and sensitive musicianship. Executive Director William Russell introduced the video portions of the concert with just the right, to-the-point commentary. With the exception of not having a packed house worthy of such an event, it could not have been a more perfect evening. Fortunately, the audience was warm and exceptionally enthusiastic, which is as it should have been. The concert was exciting.

Dressed in a gorgeous red gown, mezzosoprano Gwendolyn Jones sang in the grand manner of the great Rise Stevens. Her “Habanera” (“L’amour est un oiseaux rebelle”) from Bizet’s “Carmen” was sultry and sensuous. The lovely “Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix” (“My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice”) from Saint Saens’ “Samson et Dalila” was magically spun by Jones in the haunting, lush mezzo sounds only the most lovely and honed voices deliver.

With a dramatic bass voice and stage presence to match, Stefan Szkafarowsky’s robust approach to Sarastro’s great aria, “In diesen heil’gen Hallen,” from Mozart’s “Die Zauberflote” was riveting. His “Va, pensiero,” Verdi’s moving exhortation on behalf of liberty and self-determination from “Nabucco,” was powerful and a timely reminder that liberty can be threatened at anytime in any place.

Soprano Suzette Thoeni, Nevada Opera’s resident star, more than kept up with the fast company of the celebration. She shined it on with a florid and lovely “Caro nome” from Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” a poignant “O mio babbino caro” from Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi,” and an exquisite “Vilja” from Lehar’s “Merry Widow.” Bass Mathew Trevino scored solidly with “Non piu andrai” from Mozart’s “Magic Flute” and “Vecchia zimarra” from Puccini’s “La Boheme.”

The droll wit and gorgeous vocal coloration of baritone Dennis Jesse made Rossini’s “Largo al factotum” from “Il barbiere di Siviglia” a sensation of operatic fun and virtuosity. Credit tenor Drew Slatton and the Nevada Opera Chorus and Orchestra for a ringing “Nessun Dorma” from the gargantuan closing moments of Puccini’s “Turandot” that provided the final fireworks that propelled (much like a Cape Canaveral blast off) a standing ovation.

In a time when standing ovations are all too frequent, this one was appropriate.

As an added touch slightly removed from the never-enough-opera syndrome, an invigorated “Brazil,” as sung by Manuel Maderos and the Nevada Opera Chorus, enhanced by a vibrantly dancing couple from Never Enough Ballroom Dancers, was an unusual but nice diversion.

With largely the same cast of singers, Nevada Opera opens its regular season next Friday (10/12/07) with Verdi’s “Aida.” The exceptional American soprano Hope Briggs has been signed to replace an indisposed Claudia Waite in the title role. Waite will be missed, but Briggs is a very special singer and should create a splendid Aida.

Nevada Opera productions are presented at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada. Verdi’s “Aida” is October 12 at 7:30 p.m. and October 14 at 2:00 p.m., 2007; Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” is February 8 and 10, 2008; Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” is April 11 and 13, 2008. For information call 775-786-4046.