This year was the 4th year for Opera in the Park, and my 2nd in attendance (I was at #2). Once again, I decided to forego the purchase of a glowstick, but I did not feel left out.
The evening was lovely: warm, but relatively bug-free and illuminated by a glowing gibbous moon. For about an hour before the start of the concert, Sean Michael Dargan and Tom Greenhalgh moved throughout the grounds playing bagpipes to get the evening started.
John DeMain conducted a Madison Symphony Orchestra filled with substitute players. For a group that was mostly newly formed and little practiced, they preformed exceedingly well. Kudos to all those who stepped in at the last minute. They opened the night, after the National Anthem, with a spirited take on the Overture to Mozart's The Magic Flute.
The vocalists for the evening were superb. Donnie Ray Alber, the baritone, made his debut on the Madison stage as did Elena Bocharova, the mezzo-soprano. Kyle Ketelsen, the bass-baritone has performed with the Madison Opera in the past. He was also the bass soloist for the Mahler Eight this spring. Word to your Pater Profundis! Ted Lee, the tenor, was most recently on the Madison Stage as Calaf in the fall production of Turandot and will be returning this fall as Cavaradossi in Tosca. Barbara Quintiliani, the soprano was also featured in Turandot as Liu and has also performed with the Madison Symphony.
Mr. Albert sang a number of excellent pieces, but he really raised the roof (or would have, had there been a roof) with "I, Don Quixote" from Leigh's Man of La Mancha. It made me want to leap to my feet and go fight some windmills immediately.
Ms. Bocharova's stand-out number, in my mind, was the Seguidilla from Bizet's Carmen. Even without the costumes and other theatrical augmentation, she thoroughly conveyed the seduction of the aria.
Mr. Ketelsen was admirably wicked in Gounod's Faust Serenade. As he sand, his face was the face of Mephisto and his chuckle was suitabley demonic.
Mr. Lee knocked everyone's socks off with a reprise of Turandot, allowing Puccini's Nessum Dorma to soar out into the park.
Ms. Quintillia sang "Vilia" from Lehar's operetta The Merry Widow, as the audience swayed along with their light sticks.
The Madison Opera Chorus had several chances to shine on their one, including a rousing rendition of the Chorus of the Matadors from Verdi's La Traviata.
The night ended all too soon, even with two encores. I am looking forward to the 2005-2006 seasons for both the Symphony and the Opera. In fact, I'm thinking about auditioning for the chorus, if I can balance that with Choral Union. We shall see.
