Opera Muskoka opens 9th season with superb Cosi Fan Tutte
By Pierre Couture, President, Muskoka Opera Guild
BRACEBRIDGE — Knowing what a rich and subtle orchestration Mozart had achieved in his Cosi Fan Tutte, my expectations with a solo piano instrument were limited when we attended OperaMuskoka’s ninth opening night of their annual festival last Tuesday evening at the Renee Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge.
I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the musicality and musicianship of pianist Natasha Fransblow.
She superbly conveyed Mozart’s style and virtuosity in what some musicologists consider the ultimate Mozart achievement.
She certainly contributed to create the mood needed to accompany stage director Alaina Viau’s modern staging in a Muskoka lakeshore setting.
It was a superb idea that connected the witty and inspiring Mozart comedy score with the local audience — and so fitting to even include at some point in the surtitles the “hipsters of Muskoka.”
There were some moments of awkward direction in the singers’ movements, but ultimately the production revealed the essence and charm of Mozart’s genius.
As is usually the case in this kind of local opera production, the singing proved to be very uneven — soprano Ashley Boychuk delivered Fiordiligi’s big arias “Come Scoglio” and “Per pietà, ben mio, persona” with proper aplomb and musicality in what turned out to be the vocal highlight of the evening.
Young soprano Sharon Tikiryan sang a very theatrical Despina with a strong stage presence while using her vocal resources in the most efficient way.
Unfortunately, when it came to the well known aria “Un aura amorosa” tenor Lee Clapp did not quite achieve the required legato and the “tenore di grazia” style to do full justice to this fine Mozart line.
Baritone Janaka Welihinda fared much better in the role of Guglielmo and displayed some great potential.
Overall, a most pleasant performance where Mozart triumphed on the shores of a Muskoka lake.
