Cloaks and Clowns..

at Opera in the Heights. Seen Emerald cast on Thursday, 9/24, Ruby cast on Friday, 9/25. These are strictly my impressions as long time opera lover .. Opera IS an subjective art, and each person's 'ear' will hear something different in a voice. Anyone not familiar with the stories of these 2 short operas, I refer to any opera sites.

Looking at my notes for the respective evening:

Emerald:

• Chad Karl (bass-bariton) as Michele in Tabarro (first half of the night) seemed a bit hesitant at first, later warmed up vocally and delivered a credible performance. However, as Tonio/Taddeo in I Pagliacci (second half), he sang with more authority. This role seems more suited to his voice. He portrayed the 'handicapped' Tonio quite plausibly (BTW:For me he was the definite MACBETH last year!)
• Kirsten Hoiseth (Soprano) at times seemed to have to reach for her notes as Giorgetta in Tabarro, but did better as Nedda in Pagliacci.
• Jonathan Hodel -debut (Lyrical tenor) , too, had to force his voice over the orchestra as Luigi in Tabarro, but reached a high point in Canio's aria Vesti la Giubba (Pagliacci) when he put a real sob into his voice at the very end of that aria! Amazing.

Ruby Cast:

• As Michele Baritone Douglin Murray Schmidt brought a quality to that role that impressed, his prologue in Pag was well sung and acted, but his clowning around as Tonio seemed a bit over the top, vocally he has a rich sound.
• Tenor Scott Six (debut), an impressively tall and husky man, was quite outstanding as both Luigi and Canio. Although his voice was clear and strong, it lacked just that emotional sob at the end which Hodel managed so touchingly.
• Cretan Soprano Crystallia Spilianaki, had the power to sing and act both roles very well. But in the last minutes of Pagliacci her tone sounded a bit strident.

In the comprimario roles:

• Mezzo Nancy Markeloff was well cast as the scrounger Frugola. Markeloff, a frequent OH! singer is an audience favorite.
• Korean Yoonsang Lee (bass baritone) as Silvio in Pagliacci impressed with his flexible, warm sound. He has sung at The OH! before, and his singing and presentation have improved over the time.
• Tenor George Williams (Tinca/Beppe) appeared in multiple roles. He acquitted himself best as Arlecchino (Beppe)...a lyrical solo well suited to his slender sound.
• Bass Matt Maschek was a sturdyTalpa and also filled in at chorus.
• Young Tenor Rawley (and tall, too)... at 16 promises to fill future roles ably. He soloed as "song seller" in Tabarro and joined the chorus later.

Overall the chorus ladies and men presented a full and clean sound throughout.

Costumes were 1910's, set against a painted backdrop of Notre Dame/Paris for Tabarro, Aetna spewing fumes in Sicily for Pagliacci. It always amazes what OH! does on such a 'postage size stage'.

Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Weibel played well, albeit at times somewhat slowly! The strings and flutes sounded quite lovely.

Defintely worth a visit : Other performances October 1, 2, 3.