<<  -- 4 --  Maria Nockin    POWER AND EFFERVESCENCE

Soprano Susan Marie Pierson, a consummate actress, was a dramatic, vengeful Donna Elvira who sang with thrust and energized the text with conviction. Don Ottavio was sung by Gabriel Gonzalez with a beautiful timbre and a more opulent sound than is normally heard in this part. As Donna Anna, Edelina Kaneva portrayed a noblewoman who repressed her anger while singing with a rich agile voice.

Viara Zhelezova was a cute and perky Zerlina who could easily be wooed away from her down-to-earth husband, Masetto, robustly sung by Hristo Sarafov. As the Commendatore and later the statue that arrives for dinner, Mikhail Kolelishvili's awe-inspiring bass voice rang out mellifluously, sending its resonance to the highest corners of the auditorium.

Conductor Jorge Mester's slow tempi robbed the performance of some of its power and effervescence, but both singers and instrumentalists coped well and the evening was a great success with numerous curtain calls and standing ovations for all the artists.