Lyric Opera’s Ryan Center singers shine at the Harris

Sat Aug 06, 2011 at 1:03 am

By Michael Cameron

Paul La Rosa, Jennifer Jakob, Joseph Lim, and David Govertsen in a scene from Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” Friday night at the Harris Theater. Photo: Norman U. Timonera.

The opera stars of tomorrow don’t emerge without significant birth pangs, a process which for dozens of singers has been eased considerably by Lyric Opera’s Ryan Opera Center. All of the 13 vocalists featured in Grant Park Orchestra’s concert of opera excerpts Friday in the Harris Theater have already established a foothold in professional companies to a varying extent, and some showed promise of even greater prominence in seasons to come.

Rather than a hodgepodge of individual scenes, maestro Carlos Kalmar assembled extended excerpts from just three operas, lending the affair a welcome cohesion. The Lyric Opera’s Jack Zimmerman served as the thoroughly engrossing and entertaining narrator, nearly stealing the show with witty rhymes in the opening half.

Most audiences know only the overture from Mozart’s comic opera The Impresario, since the “full” opera was written under odd circumstances that allowed for only an overture and four vocal pieces from the composer. After a lithe, bracing reading of the overture, the three principals launched into the mini-drama with sure dramatic command and impressive vocal technique. Dueling sopranos Kiri Deonarine and Emily Birsan let loose in a gripping grudge match, while tenor Bernhard Holcomb was the warm-toned producer caught in the middle. His middleweight sound was a bit overwhelmed by the women, but under the circumstances of the storyline the imbalance was apt. Kudos to all involved for finding a place for this gem, remarkably a Grant Park Symphony premiere.

Act II of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale was equally delightful, less profound musically but easily compensating with sheer comic energy. David Govertsen was sturdy in the title role, while Paul La Rosa and Jennifer Jakob excelled as Dr. Malatesta and Norina. Joseph Lim’s Notary was played with perfect comic timing.

The crowd favorite (and mine) was René Barbera as Ernesto, a true bel canto tenor who has progressed rapidly in a few short years. His bright clarion tone rang true throughout the punishing Povero Ernesto!, eliciting a boisterous response from a packed house.

The complete second act from Rossini’s La Cenerentola made for a rousing second half, with especially vibrant performances from Evan Boyer as Don Magnifico and Emily Fons in the title role. Tenor James Kryshak had both the vocal and dramatic goods as the ardent Don Ramiro, and Paul Scholten shone as the faithful valet. The most engaging scenes were the ensembles, tightly assembled with pinpoint diction and sure balance. The rest of the stellar cast included Govertsen, Birsan, and Cecelia Hall.

The program will be repeated Saturday at 7:30. Admission is free. grantparkmusicfestival.com

Posted in Performances

One Response to “Lyric Opera’s Ryan Center singers shine at the Harris”

  1. Posted Aug 18, 2011 at 4:30 pm by Dan Shea

    THIS WAS AN INTERESTING COLLECTION OF MUSIC, WELL PREPARED AND PRESENTED, WITH SEVERAL EXTRAORDINARILY FINE VOICES TO ENJOY.
    A MOST ENGAGING EVENING OVERALL!
    THE YOUNG SINGERS RENE BARBERA, EMILY BIRSAN, JAMES RYSHAK WERE ESPECIALLY EXCITING TO LISTEN TO AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE OF THEM.

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