Last night I attended the Canadian Opera Company ensemble performance of Mozart’s Idomeneo. This was the first main stage performance that the COC Ensemble has performed and it is something they hope to do every year. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the young singers to get a performance opportunity on the stage and in the same production that the COC main cast perform in. I have heard these young artists over the past two years and it was a treat to see them perform in this new production, a co-production with Opera National du Rhin. All of the singers involved in the production did very well. They all brought a high level of vocal preparedness and stage craft to their performances.
One of the singers, Illeana Montalbetti, who I heard two years ago in audition, and had not thought much of, was absolutely fantastic. She gave riveting performance and sang the role Elettra with the confidence and skill of an artist many years her elder.
Because the COC had two very strong lyric sopranos able to sing the role of Ilia, the decided to split the performance. Laura Albino performed the role in the first half and Vancouver’s own Simone Osborne performed in the second half. Both did very well in their respective performances. Giving the ensemble this performance opportunity is one of the most important apects of any young artist program. Something I hope VO will someday soon be able to offer.
~ Tom Wright, Director of Artistic Planning
No comments:
Post a Comment