BWW Reviews: VOICES OF ITALY Comes to NYC

Voices of Italy New York City Center

By: Gisselle Guillen

Gguillen8@gmail.com

October 22, 2013

Photograph by: Andrea Zaupa, baritone

Italy came to New York City, and in a big way! Not speaking Italian wouldn't stop anyone from enjoying this show. Voices of Italy was fantastic! Full of passion and energy, the show was nonstop excitement from beginning to end. The dancers and sketches in the first half were great, but after a mini intermission, the singing was what truly made the show. The rendition of many popular opera songs was fantastic.

The 'T'Ammore' Act - The spirit of Naples, in the first half was a dance and music performance piece that got the crowd energized and in the mood for Italian culture. This half of the show might be a bit too interpretative for some, but very spirited nonetheless. The dancers were high energy. The sketches tied to each dance were motivating and allowed the dance pieces to flow creatively from one to the next.

The second half of the show was The 'Belcanto,' with singers paying tribute to Luciano Pavarotti, and they surely didn't disappoint! The young and talented cast sang classic popular opera songs like Largo al Factotum (aka Figaro), the Flower Duet, and O Mio Babbino Caro. These songs, amongst others, are not only treasured by opera lovers ,but were highly recognizable to this diverse audience. This allowed the entire multi-tier performance center to connect in the passion of Italian culture. It is also worth mentioning the incredible talent of the orchestra, never missing a beat behind the singers and dancers.

Although the show was enjoyable, two ½ hours in it seemed to be going a bit too long. However, a screen shot of Pavarotti singing towards the end brought on applause from the entire house, giving everyone a collective bolt of energy. Some audience members were even brought to their feet after hearing Pavarotti's voice for the minute piece! It was an essential touch that the director of this performance was smart to include, and exactly at the perfect timing.

Voices of Italy helped celebrate the masterful Italian talent that lies right here in the United States. The full production will be staged in New York in spring of 2014, and I recommend anyone who enjoys flavorful and colorful performances to go see it!

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