And the morale of Donizetti's Don Pasquale is....

A whole lot of musical fun in an evening, or in our case afternoon, at the OH!

After a spiritedly conducted overture, in which the strings sang, sometimes meltingly, sometimes not so, and the winds blew happily with the percussion section drumming merrily along, the farce began.

Strong singers, whose voices evenly matched, insured that the audience left chuckling.

Stefano de Peppo, and experienced bass baritone, set the pace, portraying the Don Pasquale with tongue in cheek acting without making him the archetypical caricature of an old doddering codger.

Equally strong performance came from the Norina, soprano Julia Engel, who was a saucy girl turned into fury. Her high notes were stratospheric and held, seemingly, forever.

Wesley Landry, baritone, as Dr. Malatesta, was quite convincing as the co conspirator to teach the old fool Don P. A lesson. His mellow baritone was,  IMO, a bit too "nice" for the role. 

Eric Bowden, sang Ernesto, the romantic lead, with penetrating power and endurance. 

The non singing role of Notary was taken by Maxim Bitner, a bass, who is part of the chorus.

All in all an amusing interlude on a muggy afternoon in Houston.

If, cheers readers, you miss the usual inclusions of video clips, if available, or photos, I apologize . My trusty desk top languishes at the computer whizz  " hospital", and the iPad and I are yet strangers to each other, to permit such fancies...... ;)!

Just one more note: 

both de Peppo and Bowden sing in all performances which will be Nov.21,22,23,and 24. So you have time to go and enjoy!

A taste of OH!

Last night at "Overture" opera lovers got a tasty mouthful of the OH!s coming season. 100's thronged the lobby where delectable morsels waited to be washed down with St. Arnold's Brew, water and wine, just waiting for the highlight of the event, the presentation by OH! singers. And a lively bunch they were, many favorites are returning for "The Tales of Hoffmann", the first opera on tap, sung in French. A small sampling of the arias were presented by them.

"Big Ben" (at 6 ft something, the tallest baritone I know- a veritable Barihunk ;-)
- want to hug him do bring a stepladder) LeClair, heard here as Guglielmo in Cosi
whose big voiced (and much richer after some Santa Fe seasoning :-) this summer) villains will be heard in Hoffmann.

Mezzo Heather Scanio showed off her deep gravelly sound in an aria of Nicklausse, a trouser role.
(Below with Jacqueline Thompson).

Jonathan Hodel, sang an aria of Hoffmann with his usual panache and delightful lyrical notes.

(Here as Duke in a previous Ballo at OH!)

And soprano Jacqueline Thompson, remembered as a lovely Manon, gave her take on the Bacarolle (yes, that song..so often heard in a non operatic environmen!) with Heather Scanio.

Clip of sisters singing the same

And that was all, just a teaser to let us know what beautiful sounds will wait for us at the OH! with performances on Thursday September 23, 24, 25 and again September 30, Oct 1 and 2. As usual, the major roles are cast alternatively (emerald and ruby), thus 2 tenors and 2 sopranos. It is always sooo tempting to come hear the emerald cast one night and the ruby cast the next or the second week...and never be disappointed.

But the night was not over yet, newcomer, soprano Elizabeth Andrews Robert  flung off a fiery Czardas (albeit in English translation) an aria, the Rosalinda sings disguised as a Hungarian Countess in the 2. OH!  presentation Die Fledermaus, slated for November for which Elizabeth WILL return to the OH!   Elizabeth pictured at left.

Below sung in the original German. 

 

Tenor John Rodger (tall, slim and firm of voice) sang a piece from Don Carlo, OH!'s 3. opera. He sang it in French (as did Alagna in the clip below) - but did faithfully promise to be fluent and just as great in Italian, when he returns to OH! for Don Carlo in January!

.

And to top it all off, Jacqueline Thompson (left) returned to sing 'Leila's aria to show that Bizet's 'Les Pecheurs des Perles'  (OH!s last opera this season) offers definitely more beautiful music than just THAT famous Baritone - Tenor duet, it IS famous for. 

All these musical appetizers (videos clips chosen as much as possible to give an idea how these singers sound)  really should whet your appetite for the full menu at the OH!

Do come and join the ball (as in the FLEDERMAUS), you'll not regret a second of it!

 All Photos by artandhockey
Final Bow: Lt to rt:
Thompson, Hodell, Robert, Rodger, Scanio, Big Ben LeClair and accompanist.