| . | 04/26/2003
Beatrice et Benedict, Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater
By: Bruce-Michael Gelbert
| Events marking the bicentennial of the birth of composer Hector Berlioz continue to proliferate. The Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater's contribution, late in April, was a charming "Béatrice et Bé nédict," concerning the eponymous battling pair, clearly destined for each other, and based on William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." Musical numbers were sung in French and spoken dialogue was in English. Direction was by Christopher Mattaliano, with sets by Erhard Rom and costumes by Fabio Toblini. Conductor Laurent Pillot began the evening with a sparkling prelude.
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Jennifer C. Holloway & Ji-Young Yan
Photo by Carol Rosegg
| The curtain rose on a pretty pastoral scene, with Béatrice (Jennifer C. Holloway) stretched out on the grass, reading; her cousin, Héro (Ji-Young Yang) on a swing; and music master Somarone (Brandon Poor), in a long, curly white wig, vigorously rehearsing the chorus in an ode to Sicily. All the women wore hoopskirts.
Feisty Béatrice and Bénédict (Christian Reinert) sparred lyrically and engagingly in the duet "Comment le dédain pourrait-il mourir?"
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| They celebrated their newfound love in their arias, his rondo "Ah! je vais l'aimer," dispatched with panache by Reinert, and her "Il m'en souvient," in Holloway's vibrant interpretation, before joining voices anew in a jubilant final duettino, " L'amour est un flambeau."
In the festive wedding scene, for which chandeliers and sheer curtains fell into place, the ensemble's line " Ici l'on voit Bénédict, l'homme marié" ("Here we see Benedict, the married man")—words Bé nédict never expected to hear—was written on what appeared to be tombstones, as if it were an epitaph.
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| Yang lent a bright soprano to Héro's salute to her love, Claudio (Museop Kim), "Je vais le voir," which she capped with a fluent coloratura cadenza. Yang blended voices with Nicole Warner, as her companion, Ursule, in a delicate nocturne, "Nuit paisible et sereine," kin to the exquisite "Nuit d'ivresse" in "Les Troyens."
The men and the women debated the pros and cons of love and marriage in a pair of trios, a sprightly "Me marier! Dieu me pardonne!" for Bé nédict (who feigned crucifying himself on his sword), Claudio and Don Pedro (Charles Temkey), and a mellifluous "Je vais d'un coeur aimant," for Béatrice, Héro and Ursule.
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Jennifer C. Holloway & Christian Reiner Photo by Carol Rosegg
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| Poor's Somarone and the chorus held a riotous rehearsal for the pompous master's lugubrious wedding hymn, "Mourez, tendres époux," ; in Act One, and began Act Two with a cheerful drinking song, "Le vin de Syracuse." Edward Cahill, in the spoken role of Léonato, completed the cast.
Manhattan School of Music, 120 Claremont Avenue at 122nd Street
April 23, 25 & 27
Tickets $15-20 212/749-2802, extension 4428
http://www.msmnyc.edu |
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