Seattle Opera PAGLIACCI August 3rd - August 17th, 2024 Review
PAGLIACCI
Seattle Opera
Music and Libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Directed by Robert O’Hara
McCaw Hall
Seattle, WA
August 3, 2024 7:30pm
The 61st season of the Seattle Opera started off with one of the most well known operas, “Pagliacci”. The lobby of McCaw Hall was buzzing with excitement for the new season, a gorgeous summer evening in Seattle, and one of the most beloved operas in the world.
As always, I’ll leave the plot to each patron to discover (if they aren’t familiar already). I would rather focus on the performances and other key aspects of any production.
The voices in this production absolutely stood out.
Diego Torre as Canio was full of passion as he sang while his acting matched the character and elevated the production. His performance was worthy of the standing ovation at the end of the show.
Monica Conesa as Nedda was a sight to behold. I felt very much like I was getting in on the ground floor of a future superstar of the industry. Anyone that knows me well knows that I have always been a fan of discovering talent before they break into the mainstream. From discovering bands before they signed to major labels to athletes working their way up to the pros, seeing a talent that oozes potential is always something I enjoy and might even have a knack for. Monica’s voice was fully on display in the role of Nedda. Her power during certain moments was overwhelming in the best of ways and just showed what she’s capable of. Her acting was top notch too which was not lost on this reviewer. She is only going to get better and better as her career continues to soar (to the top). A magnificent performance.
Michael Chioldi as Tonio had a commanding presence on stage and his booming voice matched said presence. He owned the stage anytime he was on it and that’s saying something considering the other talent he was working with.
John Marzano as Beppe was solid as ever. I’ve seen John in several productions and he is in some ways an unsung (no pun intended) hero. His performances always add character and depth to the productions and he is always reliable to add to the quality of any show he is a part of.
Michael J. Hawk as Silvio is another rising star of the opera scene. His voice was full of character and he worked extremely well with Monica Conesa’s character. There were times when the vocal projection was off between his performance and the orchestra but that can be easily remedied. A very minor quibble.
The orchestra and the choir were sharp on Saturday night. The orchestra in particular was really feeling the music and maestro Carlo Montanaro pulled an exceptional performance out of the musicians.
The staging was more a reminder of pre Covid times than post which was a delight to see. Hopefully the future shows this season will follow along this design path.
The show was straight and to the point. For the novice opera patron, “Pagliacci” would make a great gateway into the world of opera. For the longtime veteran, the performances in this show were noteworthy and worth the price of admission alone.
Recommended!
“Pagliacci” runs through August 17th. Tickets are available: HERE!
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts Media
Connect with Eclectic Arts Media: Social Media Links and Email
Seattle Opera
Music and Libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Directed by Robert O’Hara
McCaw Hall
Seattle, WA
August 3, 2024 7:30pm
(Diego Torre as Canio, surrounded by members of the Seattle Opera Chorus, in "Pagliacci" at Seattle Opera. © Philip Newton.)
The 61st season of the Seattle Opera started off with one of the most well known operas, “Pagliacci”. The lobby of McCaw Hall was buzzing with excitement for the new season, a gorgeous summer evening in Seattle, and one of the most beloved operas in the world.
As always, I’ll leave the plot to each patron to discover (if they aren’t familiar already). I would rather focus on the performances and other key aspects of any production.
The voices in this production absolutely stood out.
Diego Torre as Canio was full of passion as he sang while his acting matched the character and elevated the production. His performance was worthy of the standing ovation at the end of the show.
(Monica Conesa as Nedda in "Pagliacci" at Seattle Opera. © Sunny Martini.)
Monica Conesa as Nedda was a sight to behold. I felt very much like I was getting in on the ground floor of a future superstar of the industry. Anyone that knows me well knows that I have always been a fan of discovering talent before they break into the mainstream. From discovering bands before they signed to major labels to athletes working their way up to the pros, seeing a talent that oozes potential is always something I enjoy and might even have a knack for. Monica’s voice was fully on display in the role of Nedda. Her power during certain moments was overwhelming in the best of ways and just showed what she’s capable of. Her acting was top notch too which was not lost on this reviewer. She is only going to get better and better as her career continues to soar (to the top). A magnificent performance.
Michael Chioldi as Tonio had a commanding presence on stage and his booming voice matched said presence. He owned the stage anytime he was on it and that’s saying something considering the other talent he was working with.
John Marzano as Beppe was solid as ever. I’ve seen John in several productions and he is in some ways an unsung (no pun intended) hero. His performances always add character and depth to the productions and he is always reliable to add to the quality of any show he is a part of.
Michael J. Hawk as Silvio is another rising star of the opera scene. His voice was full of character and he worked extremely well with Monica Conesa’s character. There were times when the vocal projection was off between his performance and the orchestra but that can be easily remedied. A very minor quibble.
(Michael J. Hawk as Silvio (foreground) and Monica Conesa as Nedda (background) in "Pagliacci" at Seattle Opera. © Sunny Martini.)
The orchestra and the choir were sharp on Saturday night. The orchestra in particular was really feeling the music and maestro Carlo Montanaro pulled an exceptional performance out of the musicians.
The staging was more a reminder of pre Covid times than post which was a delight to see. Hopefully the future shows this season will follow along this design path.
The show was straight and to the point. For the novice opera patron, “Pagliacci” would make a great gateway into the world of opera. For the longtime veteran, the performances in this show were noteworthy and worth the price of admission alone.
Recommended!
“Pagliacci” runs through August 17th. Tickets are available: HERE!
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts Media
Connect with Eclectic Arts Media: Social Media Links and Email
In Person Video Interview with MONICA CONESA!
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