| Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim – New York Times
…..the glittering performance of Angela Meade in the title role. Meade’s plush soprano, with a silvery glint that sharpens when she sings forte, eloquently expressed her character’s volatility and pain. The leaps, runs and ornaments of this role, which presses at the extremes of a soprano’s register, held no terrors for her.
The baritone Yunpeng Wang brought elegant phrasing and keen dramatic instincts to the role of Azzo. His anger at discovering Parisina’s feelings for Ugo was powerfully rendered, and the ensuing showdown between husband and wife crackled with a musical chemistry not often found in concert performances.
The role of Ernesto, the duke’s minister and foster father to Ugo, was sung by the bass Sava Vemic with a booming, rugged tone that held great charisma
Mia Pafumi’s pert and vibrant soprano was a fine fit for Parisina’s maid, Imelda.
Susan Hall – Berkshire Fine Arts
Angela Meade Thrills in Donizetti
Meade warmed, displaying her classic bel canto technique in beautiful tones, in graceful and elegant duets and arias.
Legato so valued in singing Donizetti was remarkably produced by Aaron Blake….a lovely arching command of dynamics.
Queler has brought so much wonderful singing and opera to New York. Her phrasing is strong and exciting. The music drives but is still alive to nuance.
Yunpeng Wang…. Attention paid to his baritone voice is deserved.
Richard Sasanow – BWW (Broadway World) Opera World .com
(Meade) offered compelling ornamentation and secure high notes
Baritone Yungeng Wang….delivered a suave, urgent performance
The young bass Sava Vemic was sonorous and well-studied as Ernesto
Soprano Mia Pafumi was confident and sweet-voiced as Parisina’s servant, ImeldaPrincipal cellist Scott Ballantyne provided some beautiful accompaniment to several arias
The New York Choral Ensemble, under Italo Marchini, was fine in Donizetti’s abundant ensemble work.
I, for one, can’t wait to see what Queler comes up with next.
James Jordan – New York Observer
At age 85, Ms. Queler displayed miraculous verve on the podium.
Dr. Meche Kroop – VocediMeche.com
Under Maestro Queler’s baton, The Opera Orchestra of New York played Donizetti’s profusion of melody with the excellence we have come to expect of them.
With such high quality conducting, playing, and singing, we would count this as one of the highlights of the season
Nino Pantano – Opera-L & Brooklyn Discovery
Ms. Meade sang with gorgeous tone and superb coloratura embellishments. …. Ms. Meade gave us some exquisite silken phrases both ethereal and on a thread of spun gold. This is Bel Canto singing of the highest order.
Duke Azzo was sung by Yunpeng Wang in a powerful resonant baritone that indicated the intensity and cruelty of his character…
Vemic’s basso cantante had nobility and depth.
Maestro Eve Queler conducted the Opera Orchestra of New York with mastery and love. There were passages with the chorus singing and the trumpets playing with the full rich sound of Donizetti’s melodic music that made one say “thank you Eva Queler for all this glory.” The audience cheered for the ever youthful and indomitable Maestro and founder Eve Queler for this great triumph!
James Glazier- Random Opera
The orchestra and chorus sounded fine in a demanding score and Queler conducted with her exceptional sensitivity to her singers.
Angela Meade’s tone is ravishing, she uses it with infinite expressivity, and she did more acting with her voice and face in this concert performance than most singers achieve under even aggressive regie-directors. |
