Friday 2nd March
Figaro Ildebrando d'Arcangelo
Susanna Alexandra Kurzak
Bartolo Carlo Lepore
Marcellina Ann Murray
Cherubino Anna Bonitatibus
Count Almaviva Lucas Meachem
Don Basilo Bonaventura Bottone
Countess Almaviva Rachel Willis-Sorensen
Antonio Jeremy White
Don Curzio Harry Nicoll
Barbarina Susanna Gaspar
Nobody died of consumption, no-one was murdered, no suicide took place .... this is my kind of opera. Don't get me wrong I adoooooore those gut-wrenching, emotional roller-coasters that pull relentlessly at the heartstrings I really do but this oh so delightful tale with such charming characters left me feeling so happy inside that I think Le Nozze di Figaro has just become my new favourite opera! I could not stop smiling with sheer delight all the way through, really I loved it so very much. Think the leading man might have a little (lots, if truth be told) to do with it as well, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo was just a too too gorgeous Figaro, he just lived the role, fitting into Figaro's shoes with seemingly effortless ease and his singing was just fantastic, that voice just wrapped it's deep velvety tones around me and I was lost in it's magic ..... oh you have to hear don't you it's so fabulous I have to share - here's a vid clip from a few years back in another Figaro but the voice remains ..... stunning
an aria from Nozze di Figaro, Se vuol ballare Signor Contino - Ildebrando D'Arcangelo
can't help it but for me he has just been propelled right up there alongside Jonas Kaufmann and Dmitri Hvorostovsky as yet another of my favourite male opera singers, right at the top of the tree perched right alongside the other two.
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| Aleksandra Kurzak and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo |
There was so much on the night that I found enchanting, Cherubino for sure, what a simply divine impish character is Cherubino, you can't help but love him, a Mozart masterpiece of a creation - what mezzo worth her salt cannot help but throw herself into this delightful role and Anna Bonitatibus certainly did just that, a joy to watch.
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| Rachel Willis-Sorenson and Anna Bonitatibus |
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| Jeremy White and Anna Bonitatibus |
Applause all round to Royal Opera House for putting together an outstanding cast - just as exciting as seeing a wonderful world-renowned opera star such as Ildebrando sing is finding singers that one has never seen before put in stunning performances (all the others were new to me) and I would here like to give an extra special mention to Rachel Willis-Sorensen, she was a fabulous Countess Almaviva with a delicious soprano voice that held me spellbound, can't wait to see more of her in the future..... ok, yes you get to hear some of her too, this is Rachel in rehearsal, Detroit last year, sounds great but she sounded even better filling The Royal Opera House to the roof with her beautifully controlled voice
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| Rachel Willis-Sorenson |
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| Rachel Willis-Sorenson and Lucas Meachem |
Lucas Meachem, standing in for the indisposed Simon Keenlyside, put in a great performance as Count Almaviva and Alexandra Kurzak has to get a special mention too for her lovely portrayal of Susanna, and I liked very much Carlo Lepore's singing as Bartolo and Susana Gaspar (a member of Jette Parker young artists) a delightful-voiced Barbarina.
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| Susan Gaspar and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo |
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| Rachel Willis-Sorenson Aleksandra Kurzak Ildebrando d'Arcangelo |
Thank you Mozart/Lorenzo da Pointe, your beautiful masterpiece has won a very special place in heart and thanks to Royal Opera House for such a delightful production with great cast, this is the real deal! Really don't think it gets any better than this.
All there is left for me to do is give you a little look at my £13 bargain bench seat
with such a lovely view I could truly admire the beautiful ceiling
and the view of the stage and orchestra pit was darn good too - yes this really is The Royal Opera House, London - opera really is for everyone!!!!!!
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