Monthly Archives: April 2013

Conductor Eve Queler has a particular affinity for Verdi’s early masterpiece “I lombardi”. She also has a way of sniffing out the right mix of talent for this opera: The first go about featured the then reigning diva of Italian opera Renata Scotto, singing alongside the 24 year-old Jose Carreras. In the late 80s she revisited the work, pinning the legendary Carlo Bergonzi against the talents of a baby Aprile Millo, then the hottest Verdi rookie in the world. For this performance, Ms. Queler has once again found four outstanding principles to bring to live this gorgeous early Verdi gem, including the pairing of two AVA graduates who have been the talk of the American opera scene as of late. What ensued on the evening of April 8th was the equivalent of an operatic block party.

Michael Fabiano (Oronte), Angela Meade (Griselda), Erica Keisewetter (Concertmaster)
Credit: Stephanie Berger. All Rights Reserved.
Photo Credit: ©Stephanie Berger.

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On April 7th, amidst the noise of a rowdy outdoor concert held by students of George Washington University sipping into the halls of Lisner Auditorium, the delightful baton of conductor Antony Walker led the orchestra and chorus of the Washington Concert Opera in a performance of Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda. I say delightful because, while some conductors have been known to dismiss the conducting of bel canto repertoire as an unsavory gig, maestro Walker seemed to relish with delight as he waved to his orchestra throughout the duration of the performance. There were even moments where he seemed to be doing a can-can as the orchestra exploded under his command. It is this love of music making that keeps Washington Concert Opera in the newoutpost calendar, forcing us to be on the constant lookout of travel deals to our nation’s capital.

The cast of Washington Concert Opera’s Maria Stuarda (from left to right): Michael Spyres (top), Patrick Carfizzi (bottom), Troy Cook, Brenda Harris, Georgia Jarman.

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