OPERA: Coenraad Visser
DONIZETTI’s comic masterpiece Don Pasquale fares very well in Pact Opera’s restaging of its 1990 production. Against the backdrop of Anthony Farmer’s beautiful sets and with the characters splendidly and sometimes zanily dressed by Lindy Grindlay, Neels Hansen’s production sparkles with many deft comic touches deriving from the music.
Hanli Stapela is a marvellous Norina. The role lies exactly right for her lyric voice, so that vocally she has rarely sounded in better voice. She displays delectable comic timing, a whole new aspect to this singer usually cast as the victim in more morbid operas.
Domenico Trimarchi (Don Pasquale) likewise is a past master at comedy, clearly in the classic tradition of buffo performers. While one laughs at his hilarious antics, they are truly pathetic, so that in the end one shares Norina’s belated sympathy for him. Vocally, though, Trimarchi is a tad weak in the lower register, which robs Aspetta, aspetta, cara sposina, for example, of some of its punch.
John Fletcher (Dr Malatesta) has a very pleasing stage presence and voice, although his inexperience shows next to veteran Trimarchi. He does get the upper hand, though, in the patter duet.
Jannie Moolman (Ernesto) looks awkward on stage, and struggles with intonation. His contribution to Tornami a dir che m’ami was poor indeed. Perhaps the root of the problem is that Moolman’s singing style is just not graceful enough for comic Donizetti, and this performance did his reputation no great service.
Carlo Franci coaxes playing with verve and elan from the Transvaal Philharmonic Orchestra. The chorus, well trained by Rachelle Jonck, sings with style and gusto.
The Johannesburg season opens tomorrow, March 11, at 8pm in the Civic Theatre