BWW Reviews: I Capuleti e i Montecchi Soars at Washington Concert Opera

By: Oct. 01, 2014
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I Capuleti e i Montecchi, the two act Italian opera by Vincenzo Bellini, is a delightful and tragic retelling fn those famous Shakespearean star-crossed lovers. Although the libretto (by Felice Romani) is based not on the original Shakespeare, but a combination of Italian adaptations, most notably the 1530 novella Giulietta e Romeo by Luigi Di Porto and the subsequent play by Luigi Scevola, and to a lesser degree the forgotten Nicola Vaccai opera.

Bellini composed this piece in 45 days and pulled some music from a previous unsuccessful opera and had a very successful opening in Venice in 1830. Since then, this formulaic piece has been performed countless times over and on Sunday night at Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University, Washington Concert Opera presented a precise and subtle version that featured some true up and coming talent.

From the first moments of the soft and growing drum the slick orchestra under the dutiful baton of Maestro Antony Walker played the gorgeous overture with cinematic elegance. Some conductors are animated for show, but Walker's style is big and brassy without the melodrama. Whether he is cueing the singers behind him or conducting the dynamic nuances in Bellini's oeuvre, Walker has total control over a very tight ship.

At the focus of the piece, the star-crossed lovers are played Mezzo-Soprano Kate Lindsey as Romeo, in a gender-bending role, the way Bellini intended, and Soprano Nicole Cabell as Giulietta. In Cabell's first aria, the often-performed "Oh! Quante volte", Cabell has a beautiful coloratura that blends so perfectly with harpist Cecile Schoon's glissandos. This duet between Cabell and Schoon masterfully shows us Giuelietta's conflict between her love and her betrothed.

In Shakespeare, Tybalt is the main antagonist, but here, the character, renamed Tebaldo, is the fiancée and as operas go, is a tenor with very little conflict. While the character is probably the least fleshed out in the score, he is not underperformed in this production. Tenor David Portillo has an impeccable voice and his range both musically and emotionally is sublime. His voice adds the depth to the role that Bellini intended and makes his aria "È serbato, a questo acciaro" sound effortless.

Now, Cabell and Portillo are first rate performers, and everything about their performance was remarkable. And then there is the captivating Kate Lindsey. From her opening recitative to her death mid word as she tries to sing out Giulietta one last time, Lindsey commands the stage. Her dark tones as Romeo were complimented by beautiful lyrical passages and a true mastery in singing pianissimo in her upper register. Not to mention her emotional response as the off-stage chorus sings a mournful motif. In addition her low and dark tone integrated so seductively with Cabell's light and crisp voice.

This one-night only event was unimaginable and a true showcase for unprecedented talent. Next up on Washington Concert Opera's agenda is Richard Strauss's Guntram, performing March 1, 2015. For more information visit www.concertopera.org.

Photo Credits: Don Lassell



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