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CURTAIN UP:
Take a couple of star-crossed lovers, political shenanigans,
jealousy and murder and what have you got? A good storyline
for an opera, of course.
Now put a piano, soft lighting, a table and chairs on
a stage and enter the cast of characters. There's only
five in all but with the addition of a cape, a couple
of feather boas and some clever lighting design, they
become transformed from this small troupe into drinking
revellers, passionate lovers, manipulative relatives to
two children lost in the forest.
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It's the Drawing Room Opera Company enthralling the audience
at the Ramor Theatre last Friday.
Whatever happened to the overblown, overly dramatic opera
singers of old? The very word 'opera' can often dredge
up images of doom and gloom, but this evening was quite
the opposite. From their initial entrance onto the beautifully
lit stage to their final encore, they captured the auditorium.
With a lightness of phrase and plenty of humour, each
introduced a potted storyline for the works from which
the pieces were taken. La Traviata,
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Don Giovanni, Faust, Don Pasquale, to
name just a few. The combined voices of Elizabeth Ryan (High
Mezzo Soprano), Sinead Campbell (Soprano), baritones Gerry
Noonan and Simon Morgan and Eunan McDonald (Bass Baritone),
Nabucco's evocative Va Penseiro (aka the March of the Hebrew
Slaves) brought the first act to a close.Andrew Synnott,
the Musical Director and pianist for the opera company,
must get a mention, and his expertise kept up the momentum
and pace for the evening.
Margaret Neylon
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Eclectic mix of music at Coole Fest.
On Friday night we were pleased to be in the company
of "The Drawing Room Opera" once again and although
some of the faces had changed this year, the quality of
singing, the well thought out choreography and sense of
fun were all very evident.
After the first rousing ensemble number when all five
singers raised their glasses and sang us a toast, we were
treated to a selection of arias, duets and ensembles from
many 18th and 19th centuries' most loved operas such
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as Don Giovanni, Cosi Fan Tutti and Donizetti's Don Pasquale.
The latter provided the males with a chance to show off
their acting skills as well as their superb singing voices
as they worked out a plan to get rid of Don Pasquale's
wife. They pulled the little cameo off beautifully with
singing that was lusty and full throated yet sensitive
and secure.
We also enjoyed a small snatch of St. Saen's opera, Samson
et Delila sung by the able Elizabeth Ryan. The aria, preceded
by a powerful recitative, was lyrical and rose to a huge
climax towards the end. I felt the piece, though not
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well known, really showed Elizabeth's strong and vibrant
voice at it's best. The on to something well known.....
we all loved Humperdink's lullaby from his opera "Hansel
and Gretel". You could have heard the infamous pin
drop during the duet between Elizabeth and Sinead Campbell.
They achieved perfect balance in their ensemble singing
as the piece modulates to the beautiful climatic cadence
at the end.
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An enchanting performance from the Drawing Room
Opera Company.
On what was their first visit to the Village Arts Centre on Friday
night, the Drawing Room Opera Company charmed the capacity audience
with a programme full of spellbinding duets and solo performances.
Sinead Campbell's rendition Je Veux Vivre
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(Gounod's Romeo & Juliet) in the first half of the programme
was superb as was Mozart's E Amore Un Ladroncello (Cosi Fan Tutti)
from Elizabeth Ryan. The two ladies were joined by Gerry Noonan,
Simon Morgan and Eunan McDonald for Va Pensiero from Nabucco to
bring the first half to a brilliant close.
In the second half, we were treated to many of the more well
known
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numbers and Eunan's rendition of 'Some Enchanted Evening' was
especially pleasing as was the gals and guys with 'I'm Gonna Wash
That Man' and 'There ain't nothing Like A Dame' from South Pacific........
This was a wonderful evening indeed with the Drawing Room Opera
Company and we look forward to a return visit.
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The Drawing Room Opera Company, 120 Sweetmount Avenue, Dundrum, Dublin
14, Ireland. Tel/Fax +353-(0)1-2982219. Mobile
+353-(0)86-8291661
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