Reviewing a night at the opera sounded like a unique concert experience that I couldn’t pass up. Little did I realise just how majestic and magnificent an experience it would actually be. I walked away overwhelmed by just how moving, awe inspiring and divinely perfect the evening was.
The special evening performance was not sold out, which when really grasping the talent on showcase and their exceptional delivery of such powerful and timeless music, was really unfortunate.
I’m an admitted amateur when it comes to truly critiquing the spectacle of live opera. I don’t speak much Italian, and I wouldn’t have the courage to stand in front of a captive audience that wouldn’t as much as cough, and sustain some of these impressive octaves for what felt like forever.
Featuring Julie Nesrallah, Jennifer Taverner, Gary Relyea, Robert Kortgaard on piano, and a special appearance by Ernesto Ramirez (filling in for Richard Margison on very short notice); the soulful and heavily emotive sounds of mezzo-sopranos, soprano, tenors, and bass-baritones filled the auditorium.
The two act concert featured such universal classics as “Ol Man River,” “I Could Have Danced All Night,” and Send In The Clowns,” as well as a six-number tribute to the timeless and noteworthy Operatic play “Carmen,” the performance was filled with humour, sexuality, love, strength and sadness.
And I could have danced all night…
For more information on what Ottawa’s Centrepointe Theatre has coming up visit www.centrepointetheatres.com