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| Opera Theatre St. Louis opens
their 2009 season with the beloved La Boheme. How can you go
wrong? Well, you can't and they didn't. A strong cast and the classic story
with the lovely Puccini score is a sure-fire hit. Director Tim Ocel has staged La Boheme with a steady hand and even the crowded and often chaotic restaurant scene in Act Two comes off smoothly and assuredly. Conductor Ari Pelto has a bit of a shaky start but the St. Louis Symphony orchestra settled in to the classic score with no problem. The cast and their voices are what make this the glorious hit that it is. Although we were informed that soprano Alyson Cambridge has some of the famous St. Louis sinus, she handled the role of Mimi with grace and a strong voice. As her Rodolfo, Derek Taylor displays a confident air. Timothy Mix, so powerful on the OTSL stage in shows past once again brings a brilliant performance to the role of Marcello. Amanda Majeski shines as the coy and flirtatious Musetta while Matthew Lau also delights as her jilted lover and in the secondary role of the landlord. Steven Humes and Eugene Chan round out the sporting fellows who share the loft in 1890's Paris and both add admirably to the sterling cast. The supporting cast, including the children of the town, is strong throughout and the technical aspects of La Boheme are top notch. This is not only a great opening to the 2009 season, it's a perfect introduction to the opera in general. The great Puccini score is flawless and the superb cast and production values make it a winner in every way. If you're new to the opera, don't miss it. If you're a seasoned pro, you'll want to wrap yourself in the beauty of this show once again. La Boheme plays in repertory with three other operas through June 27th. This is Steve Allen with a look at theatre in our town for Classic 99. |
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