"The sheer visceral
wallop and power of opera in an intimate production." 184 East 76th Street New York, NY 10021 (212) 288-9438 e-mail Dicapo Michael Capasso General Director Diane Martindale Artistic Director 
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Opera News, July, 1994 A delightful L'Elisir d'Amore closed Dicapo Opera's 1993-94 season on April 17. Michael Capasso, who updated Felice Romani's story to the American occupation of Italy during World War II, gave marvelous attention to detail - from the hilarious program notes, taken from the memoirs of Corporal "Mickev" Maggio, to the effective mix of Italian and colloquial English of the American soldiers to the 'variety of sub-lots among the villagers. Designer, John Farrell was responsible for a stunning set, an Italian square complete with fountain, trattoria and operative balconies, all beautifully crafted. Highest musical accolades went to John Uhlenhopp, whose endearing Nemorino was sung with a beautiful, smooth tenor. As Adina, Doris Manville displayed sentiment musicality in her phrasing despite Sometimes strident tone and a weak lower register, while Gary Giardina performed the unscrupulous Dulcamara with flair. Donizaetti's score seemed to pour straight from the heart of conductor Michael Recchiuti, who showed himself a consumate accompanist, but his musicians failed to respond in kind. The chorus dramatically always on cue, lacked musical precision and vitality, and the orchestra suffered from poor intonation, lack of uniform articulation and want of good ensemble playing. Still, the audience left the performance gratified. Delta David Grier / Opera News Opera News, February 18, 1995 Dicapo Opera Theatre opened its 1994-95 season with a riotous Gianni Schicchi (seen Oct. 7) in a production with hardly a blemish -- thoroughly researched, detailed and executed with commitment and confidence. Veteran Maestro Anton Coppola led the twenty-piece orchestra through a spirited, idiomatic reading. The direction of Michael Capasso featured clever nonstop stage business, with a touch of gallows humor and slapstick, all in the manner of grand Italian farce.In the title role, Stephen Kechulius displayed presence and comic flair, plus the vocalism of a Verdi baritone in the making. A uniformly competent supporting cast of Young professionals included the sturdy Kirk Redmann (Rinuccio), appealing Melody Morrison (Lauretta) and pretty, sweet-voiced Victoria Casella (Nella). Ovi Vargas made a hilarious Buoso Donati, both dying and dead, performing a backflip when the recently deceased Buoso was dropped by bumbling relatives. Designer John Farrell delivered a topsyturvy Florentine setting, full of crazy angles, odd shapes, outsized props, creaking door and a unit set beautifully painted by Katerina Fiore. Susan Roth's excellent lighting served as the perfect complement, reinforcing the warm glow of candles and clearly suggesting the passage of time. Diane Martindale's lavish costumes were quirky as the opera's characters. Donald Westwood / Opera News |
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