After disruptive week, Florentine Opera sings Mozart's 'Magic Flute'
The Florentine Opera opened the final presentation of its 84th season in Uihlein Hall Friday evening, following a week of turmoil surrounding the unexpected resignation of general director William Florescu.
Florescu, who had served as stage director for the Florentine's “The Magic Flute” until his resignation, was listed in the program but notably absent and unmentioned at the performance.
RELATED:Florentine Opera leader William Florescu resigns unexpectedly
The company delivered a largely well-sung production, if one that offered little visual appeal and few clues as to time and place, singing critic-turned-director Andrew Porter’s English translation of Mozart's opera.
Baritone Will Liverman delivered a likable, funny Papageno, singing the role with warmth and power. Tenor Noah Stewart brought grace and reserve to the role of Tamino, singing with a polished focused sound, if some tension in highest passages.
Soprano Laura Pisani delivered clean, controlled vocals as the Queen of the Night, including a clear, if a bit cautious, “Der Holle Roche,” which is the war-horse piece often known simply as “The Queen of the Night Aria.” The audience stopped the show briefly with applause after the aria and gave her a standing ovation at curtain call.
Soprano Jamie-Rose Guarrine sang a lovely Pamina, singing with warmth, depth and relaxed power. Bass Jeffrey Beruan handled much of his role (Sarastro) with an even, focused sound, but struggled to be heard in the piece’s lowest passages.
Sopranos Rachel Blaustein and Ariana Douglas, mezzo-sopranos Ashley Puenner and Jenni Bank, Tenor Thomas Leighton and baritone Eric McKeever gave strong supporting performances.
Ensemble cast members included: Nathaniel Hill, Edward Graves, Joel Spiess and Samuel Rodewald. High school students Sarah Leurquin, Madeleine Keane and Rachel Mauney, gave competent, focused, poised performances as the three child spirits.
The production, sung in critic-turned-director Andrew Porter’s English translation, was accompanied by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and led by conductor Joseph Rescigno, producing a cohesive sound, but wrestling with singers for control of tempos several times.
The Florentine Opera Chorus brought vocal power and splashes of costume color to several scenes.
The production was costumed by Christianne Myers and performed with sets, lighting and projections by Noele Stollmack.
The Florentine will repeat this performance at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Marcus Center, 929 N. Water St. For tickets, call (414) 273-7206.