Fort Worth L’Elisir Live Review

Live from Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Gaetano Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore starring Mr. Michael Fabiano as Nemorino, Miss Ada Pine as Adina, Mr. Rod Nelman as Dulcamara, Mr. Christopher Bolduc as Belcore, and Miss Courtney Ross as Giannetta. The broadcast can be heard via global live stream from WRR101.1.

COMMANDOpera advises readers to refresh the page every few minutes for continuous updates throughout the performance. A complete set of dress photographs courtesy of the Fort Worth Opera will be released exclusively by COMMANDOpera throughout the prima as the action takes place. There can be no question this performance will be of global interest given the performance marks the first assumption of the role of Nemorino by the brilliant and widely acclaimed Mr. Fabiano. Miss Pine is a vocal talent to be reckoned with in the opinion of COMMANDOpera, as the artist owns a vocal instrument of crystalline brilliance in the top register. Her Adina will remind listeners of Miss Sutherland or Miss Battle for its purity of tone at the top. COMMANDOpera also looks to see what Mr. Nelman can do with Dulcamara. Mr. Stewart Robertson is slated to conduct the performance.

And so the performance begins. Maestro Robertson handles the prelude with a gentle sincerity which underlines with almost perfect simplicity the sweetness of innocence of the plot.

Enter Giannetta and the rest of the chorus singing with excellent harmony the first airs… Lets see how Mr. Fabiano does with ‘Quanto e Bella’… He evokes softly and gently the first phrase …very reminiscent of Mr. Pavarotti. This is going to be an excellent performance for Mr. Fabiano if this is any indication. The firmness of the vocal instrument is stunning.

And now to Miss Pine and Adina with ‘Della crudele Isotta’..  Miss Pine executes the air with the lovliest appogiature…nothing is overdone here. Interesting vocal instrument when live… there is the slightest tremolo which does not take away from the air. Miss Pine determines to finish with an A sharp. Enter the Belcore of Mr. Bolduc.

He begins with the air ‘Come paride vezzoso’ handling the music better than expected, imbuing an instant ‘bully’ tonal quality. Nice. The interchanges throughout are perfect. Nemorino is duly agonised, Adina is suitably distracted, while Belcore is deep with ardor. And now for the conclusion of the trio… No one takes the higher option to end the ensemble which lessens the moment somewhat.

The interchange between Nemorino and Adina unwinds deliriously thanks to Miss Pine whose notes are sensual in their tonal beauty particularly ‘Chiedi all’ aura lusinghiera’. Mr. Fabiano matches Miss Pine, note for note saturated with emotion. Truly, who sings at this calibre?? Miss Pine handles ‘Che pazzia’ along the same limpid lines, as Mr. Fabiano continues to stun in ‘Ah te a sola’. The duet is comes to a close on a high A natural: Beautiful. Enter Dulcamara..

Mr. Nelman imbues the horrendously long  air commencing with ‘Udite udite’ with gallons of color and interesting shades… if he keeps this up will there be much left? and so we listen…His command of Italian is remarkable with a Veronese accent no less!! Mr. Nelman has a new fan here as this ranks as a top tier Dulcamara! This air is always a concern…it goes on and on with only the finest artists pulling it off. Mr. Nelman deserves wild applause for this tour de force! The Fort Worth audience obliges the artist heartily.

Nemorino and Dulcamara begin their exchange in earnest. We have two brilliant artists on the stage here. Mr. Fabiano evokes a wild desperation with his singing (shades of verissimo style). One cannot believe what emanates from the throat of Mr. Fabiano! Mr. Nelman and Mr. Fabiano duet in perfectly precise harmony. THIS IS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT… bravura singing at its finest! Mr. Fabiano is stealing every moment yet Mr. Nelman keeps up the break neck pace. INSANE!!! Excellent! Delicate pianissimo from Mr. Fabiano crossed by stunning fioriture from Mr. Nelman! Wild applause is going to take place here! Mr. Fabiano finishes on a B!!!

The singing from the golden age of Opera continues with Mr. Fabiano, Miss Pine, and Mr. Bolduc. The subtlety and beauty of each note, the phrasing is just excellent. The ensemble comes to a conclusion with the ususal repetitions. Intermission begins. At this point one may find it a required necessity to step away from the system, however COMMANDOpera had not expected brilliance of this calibre. Although one is well aware of Mr Fabiano’s rightful status, the other principals are above and beyond exceptional. We await the next act.

COMMANDOpera has just heard from Primo Tenore Assoluto Michael Fabiano. He is obviously having a blast onstage.

As we head into the last half of the work, there will be some interesting singing however the most looked upon air will be Nemorino’s ‘Una furtiva lagrima’ very near the end.

And so we begin at Adina’s place. The chorus begins with expected harmony: no sloppiness from this chorus. Dulcamara returns in fine voice, though he has had a nice rest. Mr. Nelman is a delight as a singing actor.as he begins ‘Io son ricco’. Miss Pine steps in with perfectly placed retorts. Interesting how this section sounds less Donizetti and more Bellini stylistically. Enter Nemorino…

Ahh hapless Nemorino looks for another fix. The exchange is lightly and deftly handled by both artists.

The duet between Belcore and the lost Nemorino is neatly spun out with both artists assuredly handling their respective lines. Mr. Bolduc although perhaps the weakest link of the quartet of principals, he certainly owns sufficient technique to go places in a few years. The duet finishes with a B once more from Mr. Fabiano.

Enter Giannetta and the other women who reveal Nemorino has inherited great wealth. Miss Ross does well as Giannetta with able singing. Enter our unsuspecting hero.

Mr. Fabiano handles the short air ‘Dell’elisir’ with aplomb, setting the tone of a lost wistful man.

Adina enters and is not pleased with these women throwing themselves at our hero. Slight strident tone from Miss Pine, perhaps intended to reflect her displeasure vocally; it worked.

The ensemble continues unabated in perfect harmony to a conclusion. Adina and Dulcamara exchange lines. Both vocal resources work correctly together with only a slight taxing to Miss Pine. She handles ‘Una tenera occhiatina’ with a sprightliness which belies her edge. Mr. Nelman continues to sing brilliantly: an amazing artist we have here. Miss Pine once more attains a light frothy and velvety tone. Technique is relied on here.. and it see’s her in excellent stead. Miss Pine use of trills is delightful as she finishes on a C.

On to Una Furtiva Lagrima… here we go. Mr. Fabiano brings everything to the air.. the finest piano.. the delicacy of his handling makes anyones eyes moist. This is sensational in its ethereal heavenliness. Love does exist after all and Mr. Fabiano has broken this heart with his rendition of this air. The audience will go bonkers after this. They did, though you could hear a pin drop through out.

Can Miss Pine equal Mr. Fabiano with ‘Prendi’? Here we go. Miss Pine handles the air with measured delicacy, if her lower register seems slightly tenuous..her top is stellar. The depth of feeling is communicated without issue. Brava.

The Opera concludes on a high C taken by both Mr. Fabiano and Miss Pine. The house erupts into a well deserved standing ovation which continues for at least 5 minutes….

In summation COMMANDOpera is obliged to note it was Mr. Fabiano’s brilliant performance which stole the show vocally. ‘Una Furtiva lagrima’ which is at the end of the work requires an artist to have something left after a great deal of strenuous singing beforehand, as opposed to a set concert air or recording. When Mr. Fabiano sang the air, all one could think of was how this could have been recorded. While it is a little much to suggest Mr. Fabiano owns the role of Nemorino, no artist that I know of captured the gentle character of Nemorino so wholly. Once again, as with his Edgardo of Lucia, Mr. Fabiano MADE one feel as though one knew Nemorino personally. There is just something about Mr. Fabiano in Donizetti….  Mr. Nelman as Dulcamara was outstanding. The duets between these two artists blazed to life in a manner of singing not heard since the golden era of the 50′s. Such style is breathtaking and rare. Miss Pine as Adina had some truly excellent moments throughout, although COMMANDOpera found her vocal instrument ’reedy’ by the middle of the final scene. Brilliant in her top, the middle to lower register while seamless, was not as golden. Perhaps one is being picky, but this should not exist in such a young artist, and perhaps in noting such, may well be addressed in the future. Mr. Bolduc did a nice job of Belcore, however his prime will begin a few years from now: as is typical of this vocal range. Indeed, Mr. Bolduc is now on the radar of COMMANDOpera to watch. Mr. Robertson handled the turns of Donizetti’s score adroitly. For COMMANDOpera the true test of great Donizetti conducting is when the individual on the podium manages to balance the correct amount of  symphonic architecture with the vocal music. It is not an easy task. Mr. Bonynge had it right, Mr. Muti does not. Mr. Robertson was on game with the twists and turns of L’Elisir well under his strong and suitably velvety yet rigid baton. The chorusmaster of Fort Worth Opera is to be commended for the unexpected brilliancy of this chorus.