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This year's Popera has plenty to celebrate
Leonard Turnevicius
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Hamilton SpectatorThere's always something celebratory about Opera Hamilton's Popera.
After all, it's a gala program featuring four renowned singers. This year's edition of Popera, which opened on Thursday night in Hamilton Place and continues tonight, was n exception. Soprano Tracy Dahl, mezzo Allyson McHardy, tenor Gordon Gietz, and baritone James Westman, Canadians all, have burgeoning international careers. This year's Popera also had something extra special to celebrate: maestro Daniel Lipton's 20th year with the company.
but there's always something nostalgic about Popera since the bill includes favourite numbers from previous productions, as well as operatic "hits." And this year's Popera was no exception.
Remember Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia? Well, if you missed The Barber due to the 2003 World Cycling Championships, you got some of the highlights courtesy of Lipton and company.
Lipton had the kitchener Waterloo Symphony playing with style and finesse in the Overture. In the Largo al facttum, Westman, at times, did not project over the orchestra accompaniment. Lipton later announced that the Stratford-born baritone had been battling a touch of bronchitis through the week. During this aria, Westman's antics included a touch of bathroom humour. He ended by singing while seated on a chair, pants down at his ankles, a roll of toilet paper aat his feet. When he stood, he revealed his boxer shorts, patriotically emblazoned with the Canadian flag.
McHardy revealed her rich mezzo voice in a touching rendition of Una voce poco fa. In Zitti, Zitti, sung by McHardy, Gietz, and Westman, Lipton's tempo was rather hurried, but exhilarating.
A few of Dahl's high notes had too much spread in Mozart's Ach, ich fühl's. Her high F in O zitt're nicht, though in tune, was approached with obvious care.
Gietz fired off nine salvos of high Cs in Doniaetti's Ah, les amis from La fille du régiment. Westman ended Donizetti's Cruda; funesta smania with a resonant high G. Handel's Ombra mai fu was sung poignantly by McHardy.
It was smooth sailing into intermission after a flowing account of Mozart's Soave sia il vento, sung by Dahl, McHardy and Westman.
But this concert was billed as Popera Grande, so the second half also featured some meatier fare.
Leonard Turnevicius is a music educator and organist.
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