'Twins' are simply grand at Lyric Opera of Chicago
The "twins" are back, and it makes for a grand evening at Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Pietro Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" ("Rustic Chivalry") and Ruggero Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci" ("Clowns"), which opened their 11-performance run Saturday night, are searing Italian verismo tales of lust, marital infidelity and revenge. Each runs a compact 70 minutes, having been linked as an operatic double bill for more than a century.
If you've never been to an opera, you'll be carried away by the inherent drama and music of "Cav." and "Pag," as they're commonly called. One of grand opera's landmark arias, the embittered Canio's "Vesti la giubba," is the emotional high point of "Pagliacci," while "Cavalleria Rusticana" features the well-known "Intermezzo" and Easter chorus. Michael Yeargan's production design retains "Cavalleria Rusticana's" original late-19th century Italian village setting, while he advances "Pagliacci" about 50 years to post-World War II Italy.
The two casts are excellent from top to bottom. Special kudos should go to American baritone Mark Delavan, who portrays the two operas' bad guys: Alfio in "Cavalleria Rusticana" and Tonio (one of the clowns of the title) in "Pagliacci." In the latter, he sets the opera's tone with the introductory Prologue (in front of the curtain), and following a lot of dramatic stuff in-between, he offers to the audience the tragic story's ironic epitaph: "The comedy is ended."
Canio's aforementioned "Vesti la giubba" is delivered with great passion and emotion by Russian tenor Vladimir Galouzine, who thrilled Lyric audiences two seasons ago as Calaf in "Turnadot." Also dynamic is Uruguayan tenor Carlo Ventre as the doomed Turiddu in "Cavalleria Rusticana," while the female leads, mezzo-soprano Guang Yang as Santuzza in "Cav." and soprano Ana Maria Martinez (Lyric Opera debut) as Nedda in "Pag" also are in superior vocal form, with Ms. Martinez doing an exquisite coloratura turn in "Stridono lassu" in the first act.
Saturday's audience also took an instant liking to American mezzo-soprano Judith Christin's portrayal of Mamma Lucia in "Cav.," a role she's done at numerous leading opera houses, including three productions alone this season.
Stage director Leslie Halla Grayson manages the two operas' crowd scenes adroitly, in particular the Easter Sunday choral processional in "Cavalleria Rusticana" and the "comedy within the opera" set-piece in "Pagliacci." The latter scene features jugglers tossing flaming torches, along with other forms of circus entertainment.
The Lyric Opera Chorus and Chicago Children's Choir are in fine form, and conductor Renato Palumbo keeps a steady hand in the orchestra pit.
Notes: in mid-March, mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick is scheduled to take over the role of Santuzza and tenor Vincenza La Scola will assume the role of Turiddu in "Cavalleria Rusticana" - Saturday's opening night was not broadcast by WFMT 98.7-FM; instead, the Lyric has chosen the Friday, March 20 performance. The Lyric's entire 2008-09 Bucksbaum family-sponsored broadcast series will be heard nationally in May and June on the WFMT Radio Network.
"Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci"
Where: Ardis Krainik Theatre, Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive.
When: Additional performances at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18, 25, March 9, 14, 17, 20, 23 and 27; 2 p.m. Feb. 22 and March 4.
Tickets: Call (312) 332-2244, Ext. 5600, or visit lyricopera.org, for availability and reservations; major credit cards accepted.
At a glance: "Cavalleria Rusticana," by Pietro Mascagni, with libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci. "Pagliacci," by Ruggero Leoncavallo, with libretto by the composer. Leslie Halla Grayson, stage director; Michael Yeargan, set and costume designer; Donald Nally, chorus master; Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Renato Palumbo.
Starring:
("Cavalleria Rusticana")
Guang Yang as Santuzza
Carlo Ventre as Turiddu
Mark Delavan as Alfio
Katherine Lerner as Lola
Judith Christin as Lucia
("Pagliacci")
Vladimir Galouzine as Canio
Ana Maria Martinez as Nedda
Mark Delavan as Tonio
Christopher Feigum as Silvio
Keith Jameson as Beppe