Reviews 2005
Reviews 2005
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by Giacomo Puccini, directed by Robert McQueen
Canadian Opera Company, Hummingbird Centre, Toronto
January 23-February 12, 2005
The Canadian Opera Company’s winter season presents the choice of one opera to appeal to the emotions, Puccini’s ever-popular La Bohème, and one to appeal to the intellect, Wagner’s Siegfried, the third part of his epic Ring Cycle. Those who like sentimental works in a traditional productions will gravitate to the Puccini. Those who like challenging works coupled with mind-blowing imagery will choose the Wagner.
La Bohème, presented in the COC’s oft-seen production, concerns love among impoverished artists in 19th-century Paris. Nothing is wrong except that the show never really catches fire. Part of the problem is the two leads. Roldofo (Bülent Bezdüz) and the Mimi (Elena Kelessidi) both have lovely but smallish voices not suited to the barn-like Hummingbird Centre. Their acting style is also more introverted so that they tend to fade into the background dramatically and vocally when others join them on stage. Marcello (Gabriele Viviani) and Musetta (Krisztina Szabó) and both more vital and interesting and their acting is more detailed. Viviani has vocal strength and swagger while Szabó is one of the sexiest Musettas seen in ages. Conductor David T. Heusel revels in the lush beauty of the score too much at the expense of its drama.
©Christopher Hoile
Note: A version of this review appeared in Eye Weekly 2005-02-03.
Photo: Elena Kelessidi and Bülent Bezdüz. ©Michael Cooper.
2005-02-03
La Bohème