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| Ferrucio Furlanetto as Don Quichotte |
Opera in 5
acts by Jules Massenet - Libretto by Henri Cain
Conducted by
Guillaume Tourniaire - Revival directed by Hugh Halliday
Set designed
by Ralph Funicello for San Diego Opera
Costumes
designed by Missy West for San Diego Opera
Lighting
designed by Chad R. Jung - Choreographed by Tomas Dietz
Joan
Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, 15th to 28th March
2018.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
Disaster was
averted at the premiere of Opera
Australia’s much anticipated production of Massenet’s “Don Quichotte”, when
guest artist , Ferruccio Furlanetto, considered the supreme interpreter of the role
of Don Quichotte, was struck down with a severe throat infection and unable to
sing. Understudy, Shane Lowencev, stepped in at short notice to save the day...or
at least this performance.
The role of
Don Quichotte is a star part requiring a singer who can dominate the stage. Tall
and lanky, Lowrencev, an experienced singer, certainly looked the part. Not
surprisingly though, his singing and acting were both rather tentative.
However, the audience was in a forgiving mood and when Artistic Director,
Lyndon Terracini took the stage to announce that Lowencev was replacing the
ailing Furlanetto at this performance, the news was greeted, not with a sigh of
disappointment, but instead, with a sympathetic and supportive round of
applause. At the end of the performance his bows were greeted with enthusiastic
applause.
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| Warwick Fyfe and chorus in Opera Australia's 2018 production of "Don Quichotte" |
Warwick Fyfe
provided the highlight of this performance with his finely realised interpretation
of Quichotte’s faithful manservant Sancho Panza, in whom he imbued a touching
sense of dignity while filling the theatre with resonate vocals.
“Don Quichotte”
is an opera in which not a lot happens. An eccentric Knight arrives in a town
with his squire. He becomes bewitched with the glamourous Dulcinea, promises to
retrieve her pearl necklace which has been stolen by bandits. After locating
the bandits and convincing them to part with the necklace, he returns it to
Dulcinea expecting her to reward his bravery with her hand in marriage. When
she rejects him, he dies of a broken heart.
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| Elena Maximova and chorus and dancers in Opera Australia's 2018 production of "Don Quichotte" |
However, it
is packed with luscious melodies, rich choruses, and lovely arias, all of which
are superbly sung by the large cast. Although the role of La Belle Dulcinea offered
her limited opportunities, Russian mezzosoprano, Elena Maximova took advantage
of every one of them to display her creamy contralto, her dancing prowess, and
even win a laugh with her “I’m bored” response to her numerous ardent lovers.
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| Jane Ede, Anna Dowsley - Elena Maximova - John Longmuir in Opera Australia's 2018 production of "Don Quichotte" |
Jane Ede and
Anna Dowsley get the opportunity for some cheeky cross-dressing to join John
Longmuir and Graeme McFarlane as a quartet of suitors competing against Don
Quichotte for Dulcinea’s favours.
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| Anna Dowsley, Graham McFarlane, Jane Ede, John Longmuir in Opera Australia's 2018 Production of "Don Quichotte" |
Effective
mood-setting Spanish dance sequences, choreographed by Tomas Dietz and
beautifully performed by the eight dancers, added welcome movement to the crowd
scenes, which suffered from old-fashioned staging which for some reason often
required the chorus to be crowded together at the back of the stage.
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| Flamenco dancers and chorus in Opera Australia's 2018 production of "Don Quichotte" |
The sets and
costumes, courtesy of San Diego Opera, are lovely, but it was surprising to
hear excerpts from Massenet’s ballet, “El Cid”, interpolated throughout the
score, presumably to cover long set changes. Although these excerpts, lovingly
interpreted by Guillaume Tourniare and superbly played by the Opera Australia
orchestra, allowed the audience to relish the beauty of Massenet’s orchestral
writing, and richness of the orchestral sound resulting from recent
improvements to the orchestra pit, they did slow down the flow of the opera,
and extend the playing time unnecessarily.
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| Ferrucio Furlanetto and Warwick Fyffe in Opera Australia's 2018 production of "Don Quichotte" |
Reservations
apart, this production of “Don Quichotte” offers a rare opportunity to
experience a magnificently performed opera, packed with glorious music and with
a moving finale scene which is likely to stay with you long after you’ve left
the theatre.
All photos by: Prudence Upton
This review also appears in AUSTRALIAN ARTS REVIEW. www.artreview.com.au
