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| The Marriage of Figaro |
YET again St Albans Chamber Opera has a major success on its hands with its latest production, the Marriage of Figaro.
Packed with local favourite singers, the performance at the Abbey Theatre in St Albans, was fresh, exciting and above all, amusing.
The well-known plot involving Count Almaviva's attempts to thwart his valet Figaro's marriage plans is complicated enough to leave even Gilbert and Sullivan in the shade - and the music is sublime.
Chamber Opera is blessed with a pool of top-class professional and semi-professional singers as well as a band of very good amateurs to support them.
Director Peter Kestner had chosen well to bring together a beautifully-balanced cast headed by bass Des Turner as Figaro and soprano Kathryn Jenkin as his bride, Susanna.
Both roles are completely demanding yet throughout the performance neither singer lost their sparkle and freshness. Not only did they handle the high comedy extremely well, but the more tender moments were also delightful.
Abigail Smith, currently studying singing at the Royal Academy of Music, showed once more how her talent and skills have broadened since she first sang with Chamber Opera at the age of 16.
Although her voice is still not as strong as some of the other more-experienced singers, it was more than adequate for the Abbey Theatre's compact auditorium.
Her performance as the adolescent page boy, Cherubino, was packed with character and her singing - particularly of the famous love song in the second act - was an absolute delight.
With a top-class international reputation behind her, Dominique Thiebaud brought masses of experience to her role as the Countess and once more gave an outstanding performance. She fitted beautifully with the other lead performers and the result was some glorious duets, trios and more.
In addition there were some excellent character roles from other singers, including Bob Niblett as Don Basilio, Tom Forster as Antonio, Melanie Roberts as Marcellina and Rebecca Muhley as Barbarina.
If there was a disappointment among the singers it was Martin Muir at Count Almaviva. He simply did not create the imposing and dynamic character one would have expected.
The other small disappointment was that the quality of the orchestra under musical director David Ireson did not match that of most of the singers.
The show runs until Saturday 18 March.
JOHN MANNING
© Herts Advertiser 2006. Reproduced by permission