UoT Opera presented a show of mostly Mozart arias/scenes in a semi staged fashion directed by Mabel Wonnacott in the RBA on Wednesday.  Although each scene was credited in the programme the parts weren’t specified and since I don’t know this new group of students I’m only gong to name names where I’m sure!

Generally it was a very satisfying show displaying some rather good singing and acting and promising well for the year to come.  I also liked that it wasn’t all the da Ponte operas plus Magic Flute.  In fact we got two quartets from Idomeneo plus “Ah perdona al primo affetto” from La clemenza di Tito.  It’s one of my favourite arias and it was very nicely done by Teresa Tucci (Servilia) and Nathania-Rose Chan (Annio).

There were nicely done duets from Cosí; “Il core vi dono”, Lissy Meyerowitz and George Theodorakopoulos, and Don Giovanni; “La ci darem la mano” (what else?), GT again with Ana Isabella Castro.  “Hm! Hm! Hm! Hm!” from Magic Flute was notable for the three ladies reincarnating themselves on the fourth level as the three guiding spirits.

Just about moving us away from Mozart was the quartet “Looking at the green here in the glade” from Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles before a slightly manic version of the finale from The Marriage of Figaro with Jordana Goddard making an effective entrance down the stairs as the Contessa.

Sandra Horst conducted discreetly and Christine Bae and Spencer Kryzanowski provided piano accompaniment.  All in all, a very satisfying hour of music making.

Photo credits: Stelth Ng