The audience seemed powerfully entertained by "The Power of Love," a selection of show-stoppers from various operas presented in concert Friday. Applause, cheers and sometimes laughter followed each selection and, by the end, the crowd appeared to be ready for more.
For this program Anchorage Opera brought in some strong talent from out of town: Erin Wood drew bravos from fans at the Discovery Theatre with "Vissi d'arte," as did John Ken Nuzzo with "Nessun Dorma."
But locals supplied some of the best moments. Most notably, Anastasia Jamieson excelled in the final trio from "Faust" and as Sophie in the trio from "Der Rosenkavalier." She was joined in the first by Nuzzo and Anchorage Opera General Manager Torrie Allen, but hers was the exemplary voice in the ensemble and remained so in the "Rosenkavalier" trio, in which she was joined by Nancy Caudill (Octavian) and Wood.
Marlene Bateman sang a fine and compelling "Mon Coeur s'ovra a ta voix" from "Samson et Delila." Kate Egan supplied some levity with her campy "Art is Calling for Me" and again in a three-diva arrangement of the Habanera from "Carmen" with Caudill and Bateman. The variety kept the program moving quickly -- less than two hours with intermission -- and smoothly.
The instrumentation was beefed up compared to some orchestras we've heard in the pit and for this show it was relocated to the topside of the stage. But it still wasn't big enough for the Wagner selections, "Dich teure halle" from "Tannhauser" and the "Liebestod" from "Tristan and Isolde," both featuring Wood. The violins in particular struggled, as did the winds at points. The lower strings, however, came through beautifully.
An organ came through far too much. It was first heard in the Intermezzo from "Cavalleria Rusticana," where it added some heft to the strings. But in the "Faust" chorus, its bass distorted to such an extent that it sounded like the thumpa-thumpa woofer in a passing truck cranking out a furious rap anthem at top volume. Let's hope that's addressed before the next show.
The program ended with all hands on stage for the Easter chorus from "Cavalleria," Wood again with the solo. The chorus sounded underpowered. But there was a long standing ovation that might have gone on longer had the house lights not gone up while the cast was still taking bows and someone -- I think it may have been conductor Andrew Sweeney -- called out, "You can go home now."
It may have been the first time either of the Wagner selections has been performed with orchestra here. It turns out that the "Rosenkavalier" trio was previously performed last May at a similar concert by Opera Fairbanks; Egan, Bateman and Cassandra Tilly were the painfully triangulated lovers.
Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.
By MIKE DUNHAM
mdunham@adn.com