BEMF presents La serva padrona and Livietta e Tracollo

By Kevin Wells, 19 June 2017

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“a production this inspired and lively should be bottled for future enjoyment”

Reviewed at New England Conservatory: Jordan Hall, Boston on 17 June 2017

Pergolesi, La serva padrona

Pergolesi, Livietta e Tracollo

Boston Early Music Festival Dance Company

Stephen Stubbs, Conductor

Paul O'Dette, Conductor

Gilbert Blin, Director

Anna Watkins, Costume Designer

Amanda Forsythe, Serpina

Douglas Williams, Uberto

Erica Schuller, Livietta

Jesse Blumberg, Tracollo

Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra

Demons and monsters: Rameau at the Boston Early Music Festival

Kevin Wells, 13th June

The Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra led by Robert Mealy, with soprano Emőke Baráth and dancers Caroline Copeland and Pierre-François Dollé, showcase Rameau's vitality and originality.

*****

Boston Early Music Festival strikes again with a knockout Octavia

Kevin Wells, 8th June

Once again, the BEMF brings a Baroque opera back to life. Reinhard Keiser’s 1705 Octavia is exceptionally well sung, adroitly staged, designed and danced, with impeccable musicianship.

*****

BEMF stages Francesca Caccini's Alcina

Kevin Wells, 10th June

A rare chance to see the first extant opera written by a woman, Francesca Caccini's La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’ isola d’ Alcina.

****1

Campra capers: Le Carnaval de Venise

Kevin Wells, 11th June

With Lully’s death in 1687 and Louis XIV’s increasing immersion in religious piety under the influence of Madame de Maintenon, the court ceased to exercise a strangle hold on opera.

****1

Aufs Korn genommen: Lampes The Dragon of Wantley beim Musikfest Bremen

Jens Klier, 24th August

In der Lachmuskeln strapazierenden Inszenierung formationseigenen Gilbert Blins gelingt dem BEMF ein Opernspaß, der es absolut verdient, vermehrt sein fantastisches Unwesen treiben zu dürfen.

****1

Peter Grimes drops anchor again at The Royal Opera

Christopher Woodley, 5th May

Allan Clayton and Sir Bryn Terfel lead a strong cast in a revival of Deborah Warner's dark staging of Britten's signature work at Covent Garden.

****1

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Kevin Wells

Kevin Wells was bitten by the opera bug at 10, having heard a 1936 recording of Jussi Björling singing “Che gelida manina”. He has never been the same since. A student of voice, performance practice, the history of singing and opera, he holds advanced degrees in Italian and has lived and worked in Italy off and on since the 70s. La Scala became a second home as the Met had been during college daze. Now in his native Boston, he works as translator, tutor, and language coach, haunts Symphony Hall, and would haunt the Opera House had it not been demolished in 1958!

Snap, crackle and popping Pergolesi: Boston Early Music Festival presents La serva padrona and Livietta e Tracollo