Turandot ?????
Performers: Vallès Symphony Orchestra. Choir Friends of the Opera of Sabadell. Musical direction: Danciel Gil de Tejada. Stage direction: Carles Ortiz. Production of Fundació Ópera a Catalunya (FOC). Place and date: La Farandula in Sabadell (17/IV/2024)
Magic was made at the premiere of Turandot, by Giacomo Puccini, FOC’s last opera with the legendary Mirna Lacambra as artistic director, for an audience that roared the success of an opera that recreates itself like a phoenix.
The Vallés Symphony showed the work of its sections in the delicate and atmospheric vision of maestro Daniel Gil de Tejada. He focused on the symbolism of the magical tale, underlining the impressionistic air of the night scenes, magnificent flute, harp and woodwinds. The spectacular nature of the orchestral writing also shone in a laborious ensemble that, if at some point it covered the voices, recreated the timbral richness with pure brilliance of brass.
The choir performed with admirable overall performance despite a stretched soprano section.
In the vocal section, the Turandot by the Jerez soprano Maribel Ortega, an emblematic role of her career, showed the suitability of a killer vocality that she knows how to sweeten and phrase with art and charisma. If any treble roared with heartbreaking power, it was in the wake of a role that continues to be the iceberg of a strong dramatic soprano like Ortega.
Calaf by Mallorcan tenor Antoni Lliteres stood out in his debut in the role. At the beginning of the opera he demonstrated a voice with infallible and easy treble, the timbre just lacked body and robustness, but the temper of his means, a worked phrasing, notable fiato and a Nessum dorma with a heroic ending that exploded in the ovation of the function, they crowned him with notable personal success.
Solvent, with noble singing and appropriate style, the Liú of the soprano Ivana Ledesma, as well as the praiseworthy Timur of the bass Jeroboam Tejera.
The three ministers are well intertwined and harmonized. The two tenors, Jorge Juan Morata (Pang) and Marc Sala (Pong), with ideal emission and clarity. Baritone Carlos Daza’s Ping stood out for his vocal authority and the smoothness of his expressive and elegant singing.
Professionalism and quality in the Mandarin by baritone Tòfol Romaguera as well as in the Emperador by tenor Jordi Casanovas.
Carles Ortiz’s production, recovered from 2015, opts for the magical recreation of the oriental tale with kitsch costumes, a dignified functional scenography by Jordi Galobart and theatrical lighting by Nani Valls.
A cathartic response from the audience, with loud applause, marked the success of the performance.
A magnificent end to the season for the Ópera de Catalunya Foundation, with a future tour of up to thirteen Catalan cities, with the sold out hanging on each and every one of its performances.
