Word: sopranos
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Cannon, as Belinda, is a lonely point of light in this largely disappointing production. More than any other performer, Cannon takes great advantage of the surprisingly good acoustics of the PfoHo dining hall: her strong, lovely soprano resounds thrillingly, even above the frequent fits of scuffling from the chorus members and recurring orchestral problems. Her Act II opening solo, "Thanks to these lonesome vales..." is excellent, demonstrating especially skillful use of dynamics and vibrato...
Anyone who doubts that life is unfair should meet Renee Fleming. She's an international opera star blessed with a warm, creamy, lyric-soprano voice and show-stopping good looks. Signatures: Great Opera Scenes (London), her latest CD, has hit the classical charts. Andre Previn is composing an operatic version of A Streetcar Named Desire especially for her (the San Francisco Opera will give the premiere next season). And as if all that weren't enough, she has two children, sings jazz on the side and is notorious for being...a really nice person...
...concerto grossos serve as overtures to the first and second parts, the D minor, Op. 6 No. 10 and the G major, Op. 6 No. 1 respectively. The exceptional soloists gave performances worthy of Hogwood's illustrious direction, perhaps even of Milton himself. Especially notable were sopranos Sharon Baker and Lisa Saffer, whose powerful voices captured both the light, lilting passages of L'Allegro and the "grave music," as Handel termed it, of Il Penseroso. Christine Brandes, also soprano, however, sounded a bit too bright and overharsh at times. Tenor Alan Bennett and bass David Thomas also demonstrated impressive talent...
...Both the soprano and bass parts contain a great deal of extremely demanding coloratura, vocal play and lengthy runs, reminiscent of the earliest tenor and bass airs in Part I of Handel's Messiah. These passages, like nearly all of the piece, were executed masterfully. Saffer in particular seemed the very bird described by her lines, "Sweet bird,.../ Most musical, most melancholy,/ Thee, chantress of the woods among,/ I woo to hear thy even song." Saffer's song floated through incredible trills and arpeggios which spanned several octaves without the slightest hint of effort. The choir, though little utilized...
...conclude this year's season, the BankBoston Celebrity Series served up one long dessert of a concert: pianist Richard Goode and soprano Dawn Upshaw performed in a packed Jordan Hall, Each of these superb musicians is so busy in a solo career, it's surprising their yearly tours happen at all--surprising, but oh-so-fortunate. Their teamwork Saturday night produced uncannily, conceptually flawless music and drew a bath of beautiful sound...