| Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera: “La Boheme” BY Kristie Reeves FOR LA2DAY.COM Jun 16, 2009
the opera scene here, we only know about the productions at L.A.Opera. But not everybody knows that there are small companies around town that keep the opera going at the smaller stages. I had the pleasure seeing Giacomo Puccini's "La Boheme" presented by ‘Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera' last weekend, a brand new opera company in town that promises a great future for itself. Co-founded by Ella Lee (who also serves as the artistic director) and Linda Jackson, the company managed to assemble a wonderful cast for their first production. Kirk Smith stage directed and Galina Barskaya worked as the music director and accompanist. Set in 1963 (the original version is set in the 1830s), "La Boheme" is centered around a community of artists in Paris. It tells the love story between the seamstress Mimi and the poet Rodolfo who fall in love. But their love is not without conflict and they don't unite again until the end of the play when Mimi returns to Rodolfo and dies, surrounded by her friends. The performance had me involved from the first moment. Soprano Linda Jackson as ‘Mimi' and Tenor Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos as ‘Rodolfo' did a fantastic job and their duet at the end of Act I was just wonderfully sung. Diana Briscoe who played ‘Mussetta' lightened up the scene with her comedic skills and made us all laugh as her character Mussetta was trying to win back Marcello (sung by Gabriel Manro). In the final act Mimi and Rodolfo reunite one more last time before Mimi dies. Linda Jackson was just taking us away from Los Angeles and into the quarters of Bohemian Paris, her voice was beautiful and clear, her performance so convincing that it brought tears to my eyes. I hope there are many more shows coming from this company. THE DETAILS: L.A. Metropolitan Opera Palisades Methodist Church 801 Via De la Paz Pacific Palisades |
