Word: coloratura
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Both the soprano and bass parts contain a great deal of extremely demanding coloratura, vocal play and lengthy runs, reminiscent of the earliest tenor and bass airs in Part I of Handel's Messiah. These passages, like nearly all of the piece, were executed masterfully. Saffer in particular seemed the very bird described by her lines, "Sweet bird,.../ Most musical, most melancholy,/ Thee, chantress of the woods among,/ I woo to hear thy even song." Saffer's song floated through incredible trills and arpeggios which spanned several octaves without the slightest hint of effort. The choir, though little utilized...
...music-making was superb from the outset: members of the chorus blended well with each other and sang fortissimo without overwhelming Christina Harrop's slight Giannetta. Gregory Turay turned Nemorino's first tenor solo into a great vocal cadenza. Soprano Lisa Saffer's Adina soon demonstrated that her coloratura could amply meet the demands of the bel canto style...
...wacky Dr. Spalanzani (Joel Pollack). Hoffmann tries to romance her, but as he dances with this red-cheeked robot sexpot, she spins out of control, and the protagonist becomes painfully aware of how unnatural his lust is. Little sang some breathtaking runs, imbuing her vocal acrobatics with a fine coloratura and marvelous control...
Miraculously, what could have tipped over into camp or condescension doesn't, thanks to director Mark Lamos and his energetic cast's affection for the piece's sweetly earnest belief in the promise of America. The tone is whimsically wacky: a cat sings coloratura on Rollerblades; a corrugated moon turns a heart-stopping shade of blue. The whole enterprise, done in kiddie-book colors, is so infectious and wholesome that you begin to think, Move over, Oklahoma...
...Savant: "That's Violetta ((correct)) doing her coloratura number...