Ellie Caulkins Opera House: 11/7, 11/10, 11/13 & 11/15
Aida is one of the most satisfying evenings of opera
produced by Opera Colorado in the last several years.
Giuseppe Verdi’s “AIDA” shows an Opera Colorado that’s on
the rise. Over the past few years there
have been more misses than hits for this company and hopefully this production
is the harbinger for great times to come.
Conductor Ari Pelto led the Opera Colorado Orchestra through
Verdi’s grand composition with style and flair. The Opera Colorado Chorus
sounded great.
Stage Director David Gately used the Ellie’s stage to superb effect
for the grand scenes. His pacing was the kind that makes the evening fly by.
Lighting
Design by Lucas Krech gave us bright sunny primary colors in this gilded
Egyptian setting once the sun had been ominously – and wisely - eclipsed at the
top of the opera.
Alexandra Lobianco’s Aida provided us with a soprano that
was heartbreaking. Tenor Carl Tanner was in fine voice as Aida’s paramour, Radames.
Catherine Martin’s Amneris was beautifully sung. Marco Nistico’s Amonasro and
Harold Wilson’s Ramfis were also memorable.
The scenic design by Erhard Rom and Costume Design by Martha
Hally provided courtesy of Virginia Opera gave the production a classy look.
Rom’s scenic design gave us a visually spectacular mash-up of classical
pyramidal lines reinforced by contemporary industrial metal.
It appears that the company is receiving more funding from
its underwriters. Its choice to share costumes and scenic design from Virginia
Opera was a wise decision indeed.
In the days when James Robinson was the artistic director
there was generally a sharing of sets and costumes with opera companies on the
east coast and in Texas. Those operas were spectacular. It is to be hoped that
the choices being made in this vein again will be a harbinger for a future of
fantastic opera productions by Opera Colorado.
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