Timothy Mix as Marcello and Carelle Flores as Musetta in the Palm Beach Opera production of Puccini's La Boheme.By Rex HearnWEST PALM BEACH -- As a boy of 10, I could sing Che gelida manina, Rodolfo’s aria from the first act of Puccini's La Boheme, using my own invented words that I thought sounded like Italian.Such is the genius of Puccini: Tune after tune penetrates even very … [Read more...]
Opera review: Musicianship distinguishes decent PB Opera ‘Boheme’
Alessandro Liberatore as Rodolfo and Norah Amsellem as Mimi in Palm Beach Opera's La Boheme. By Greg StepanichWEST PALM BEACH -- Ask an opera fan for a favorite Puccini aria and you'll get different preferences for the songs that stand out in the fabric of the drama, from Vissi d'arte to Un bel di and Nessun dorma.But the Italian master was in a fundamental way an ensemble … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: April 3-5
Things don't look so good for Mimi in Act IV of La Boheme.Soprano Norah Ansellem is Mimi, with Alessandro Liberatore as Rodolfo. Surrounding them are Carelle Flores, Timothy Mix, Eric Jordan and Christopher Bolduc.Opera: The Palm Beach Opera closes its season beginning this weekend with the world's most popular opera, Giacomo Puccini's La Boheme, in a staging by the great … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: Palm Beach Opera scales back to three operas for 2009-10
By Greg StepanichWEST PALM BEACH -- The Palm Beach Opera announced today a season of just three fully staged productions for the 2009-10 season instead of the current four, a concession to tough economic times and also a move toward multi-year fiscal planning that administrators hope will ensure the survival of the company."We actually already began discussing this a year ago, … [Read more...]
Opera review: Second-cast ‘Figaro’ sometimes disjointed, but singing is strong
From left: Layla Claire, Solo Braga and Patricia Risleyin Palm Beach Opera's Le Nozze di Figaro. By Rex HearnThe idea of setting Beaumarchais's play to music came from Mozart, librettist Lorenzo da Ponte said of Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro):''Much as I had to 'cut' the dialogue, we must give Mozart the kudos for writing music that filled in the gaps,'' he said. … [Read more...]
Opera review: Palm Beach ‘Figaro’ entertains, honors Mozart
Russian soprano Lyubov Petrova.By Greg StepanichWEST PALM BEACH -- There has been a good deal of debate about the ultimate strategy of the creators of the great humanist document that is Le Nozze di Figaro: Were da Ponte and Mozart trying to say pointed things about the aristocracy, explore the vagaries of love with a pre-feminist twist, or simply try to show their audiences a … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Feb. 26-March 2
Michael McKenzie, Brett Fleisher and Wynn Harmon in Dangerous.Theater: Prolific South Florida playwright Michael McKeever has noticed that his work has grown darker over the years, but never more so than his latest, titled simply Dangerous, a “deconstruction” of the classic French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which has spawned several film versions.McKeever sets his version … [Read more...]
Opera review: Swenson shines brightest in vigorous ‘Norma’
Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs as Norma.(Photo by Alissa Dragun)By Greg StepanichWEST PALM BEACH — The difference between the operas of the bel canto tradition and the operas of Giuseppe Verdi that followed them is one of greater psychological insight, surely, but more importantly, it's a difference of brute energy.The operas of a bel canto composer such as Vincenzo Bellini are … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks, Jan. 22-25
Antelope Canyon, a 30- x 36-incharchival photograph taken by Kevin Boldenowin May 2008 at Page, Ariz.Photographer benefits Cancer Alliance: From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Mos’Art Gallery at 700 Park Ave. in Lake Park presents Visual Poetry, a show to benefit The Cancer Alliance. The show features the infrared landscape photography of Kevin Boldenow, recipient of the 2004 South … [Read more...]
Opera review: Yuan, Shagimuratova stand out in ‘Rigoletto’
By Greg StepanichWEST PALM BEACH — A moving portrayal of a man done in by his desire for revenge and a soprano of great promise added distinction to a compelling evening of entertainment as the Palm Beach Opera opened its 46th season Friday at the Kravis Center with Verdi's Rigoletto.This is a production that looks good, sounds crisp, moves along smartly, and was distinguished … [Read more...]