Word: choraled
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...soloists are without exception strong, lovely vocalists, neither too delicate nor too overwhelming for the choral and orchestral accompaniment. Bauwens is particularly notable for his elegant, tasteful use of flourishes. His "Ev'ry valley shall be exalted" aria was very beautiful, lilting, and full of little trills and decorations. The tenor part, though too often sadly neglected in the "Christmas section" of Part I, has some of the loveliest music in Messiah, and Bauwens proves himself wholly equal to it. His Part II recitatives, "All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn" and "Thy rebuke hath broken His heart...
...high and alas, was not entirely fulfilled. While musical talent is undeniably present in this ensemble, and occasionally shines in a few standout performers, the production overall is seriously handicapped by overacting, an ill-prepared orchestra and a lack of strength and clarity even in the best of its choral passages...
...lovely, and the two women's strong, ringing voices are well-matched. Despite slight difficulties with intonation at a few points, both Cannon and Oh demonstrate remarkable facility in the duet's challenging runs. The chorus' reiteration of the verse, on the other hand--the opera's first big choral part--lacks clarity and strength. The choral "Cupid only throws the dart/That's dreadful to the warrior's heart..." is much better in terms of musicality and volume, despite problems with unity and articulation of final consonants...
...rest of the cast. Much of Bruckmann's singing, when she's not grimacing or missing her note in a dramatic squawk, is also worthwhile, as are many of Quilici's passages. But neither lead is ultimately compelling as a character or performer. And many of the choral members are simply liabilities to the production--their varying quality of vocal contributions fail to outweigh the ridiculous mugging and noise-making which someone apparently considered lively or endearing. In a fourth-grade production, such bounding and gasping might be cute, but here at Harvard, where great dramatic and musical talent abounds...
...main witches, who have several recitatives each, a couple of duets and solos in a choral verse, are quite skilled in their musical delivery, though their acting, too, leaves much to be desired. Especially outstanding is the wild-haired Anja Blair, who projects wonderfully and exhibits a very clear, strong vibrato. The witches' scene, however, is too highly lit, giving the impression of a parody of a scene of darkness and evil. The sorcerer sings at the scene's opening, "Wayward sisters, you that fright/The lonely traveler by night...." Frightening lyrics, set to suitably dark, minor music. But when undermined...