<<  -- 4 --  Maria Nockin    A SUMPTUOUS DISPLAY

James Cresswell, who has been singing small roles at LA Opera for some time now, was a robust sounding monk. Lauren McNeese was a shapely, boyish page and David Lomeli, a Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program Member, was a rather small voiced Count Lerma. The Celestial Voice was sung with luminous tones by Hanan Alattar.

William Vendice's chorus displayed harmonic precision and added much to the performance because its members moved as participants in the drama. Conductor James Conlon is a new arrival at LA Opera and that may explain the occasional lapses by his brass players. His tempi were on the slow side, but this was a excellent rendition of the Verdi score, nonetheless.

This performance presented the audience with a sumptuous display of dramatic Italianate singing which set a tremendously high standard for the coming season. It will be wonderful if the rest of the season's offerings are on the same level.