<<<  <<  -- 4 --  Maria Nockin    MUSICALLY THRILLING

As the Earl of Leicester, Yeghishe Manucharyan endowed the role of romantic tenor with courtly singing while Andrew Greenan was properly dark and villainous as Lord Cecil. Bass Reinhard Hagen sang the part of Talbot with robust, ringing tones, but his interpretation lacked the definition that one usually expects of him. Susana Poretsky, however, was an amiable Anna who provided secure mezzo harmonies.

San Diego Opera has always had a first rate chorus and this production bore no surprises. Under the direction of Timothy Todd Simmons, the group sang gloriously while acting as sixteenth century courtiers. A well known expert on Italian opera, conductor Edoardo Müller's tempi were never too fast or too slow and he never covered the voices of the singers. It was a great pleasure to listen to him lead this dramatic and musically thrilling performance.