3 comments so far.Astra Theatre’s Nabucco performed to a packed auditorium
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Nabucco at the Astra Theatre was performed to a full auditorium on Thursday, and the audience were not disappointed.
The curtains rose to the passionate opening chorus – The glory of Israel is shattered and broken, the Chorus coached by the highly respected Maria Frendo, and joined by a group of professional singers from Rome. Nabucco has many choral numbers, the chorus is the pivot around which the rest of the opera rests. When Va, Pensiero – Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, was sung in the third act, the Chorus, quite rightly, received rapturous applause.
The cast was led by Bass Carlo Colombara, as Zaccaria, his powerful voice filled the auditorium, holding the low notes to perfection. Baritone Piero Terranova, was equally impressive in the title role of Nabucco. Coloratura soprano Silvia dalla Benetta as Abigaille, was the revelation of the evening, with her extensive range, she entranced the audience. Olga Sliepnova was perfect in the role of Fenena, with Cliff Zammit Stevens very well received in the lead tenor role of Ismael.
The corps du ballet led by Natalie Sciortino, performed a graceful dance as flamingos. The mise-en-scene, the brainchild of artistic director Enrico Stinchelli, was executed by the resident scenic artist Joseph Cauchi aided by Andrew Portelli and his team. And without a doubt, the lighting and stunning costumes greatly contributed to this wonderful production.
The Astra Theatre’s Musical Director and Mediterranea’s Artistic Director, Joseph Vella, directed the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra
Absolutely stunning, glorious music matched by a really beautiful visual presentation!
A big thank you to all those involved in the production, we are so lucky to have such a world class performance here in Gozo.
Bravo!
WHERE IS THE ALL OPERA MAGIC GONE???
I am sorry to be frank, but I am very disappointed by the quality of this performance.
For someone who knows a bit of “world class performances” this was like a amateur’s approach which went wrong.
Orchestra was inaccurate sometimes, musicians seem to fell asleep, accents were put wrongly.
Performers were sometimes walking around the stage as having no clue where to go.
Ballet was a mess – not synchronized, edgy movements, some dancers were moving like marble statues.
And those technicians and prop-men causing a mess behind – noise and noticeable appearances behind the first lines (where’s the magic!?)
Last but not least – the audience: noisy, apparently thirsty and hungry, eating and drinking during the performance (sic!), waving with their phones and tables all the show, clapping after every aria (it’s not a jazz concert, please!)
And the house… I was mesmerized when first saw the pictures of the Astra Theatre on the web… and stunned when entered the premises in person (!)
People eating cheap sandwiches from a plastic boxes under a TV screen showing football (!) Lights are like in the neighbor’s dirty garage (so the dirty corners, staircases, etc.), the backstage area is not covered from audience (!) allowing them to sneak into (!)
And when you finally get inside you have to seat in the cheap, uncomfortable wooden chairs, like at a comedy show staged at some barn or stall.
Horror!
It was the worst “opera”(-like) experience in my life.
You kill the art in this way…
Condolences.
p.s. Only the Italian singers were pulling the show out of complete ruin.
Mr Koko DiJanarco are you referring to the Opera that was held in the Maltese islands ?
If yes I estimate your comment as your name is.
Koko, you obviously fail to recognise the charm of Gozo. Go to Rome and apart from being robbed and taxed you can enjoy what you like to refer to as ‘world class performances’. You forget the roots of opera and plays. For the masses not the robbing rich.