Back to Opera San Jose to see the “other cast” in the double bill of Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi, and especially to hear Silas Elash as Simone.
Our cast for Suor Angelica:
Sister Angelica: Cecilia Violetta López
The Princess: Patrice Houston
The Abbess: Rebecca Krouner
The Monitress: Tania Mandzy Inala
Mistress of the Novices: Michelle Rice
Sister Genovieffa: Elisabeth Russ
Sister Osmina: Katherine Gunnink
Sister Dolcina: Antonia Tamer
Nursing Sister: Amy Dabalos
Conductor: Joseph Marcheso
Director: Lorna Haywood
Even though it was the “other cast,” Cecilia Violetta López was back as Sister Angelica, as scheduled and not as the result a sudden illness on the part of another. She was just as fine as she had been a week and a half ago, and Patrice Houston’s aunt was practically a carbon copy of Nicole Birkland’s. A beta, for sure.
Our cast for Gianni Schicchi:
Gianni Schicchi: Zachary Altman
Lauretta: Cecilia Violetta López
Zita: Patrice Houston
Rinuccio: Alexander Boyer
Gherardo: Robert Norman
Nella: Elisabeth Russ
Gherardino: Joshua Grzymala
Betto di Signa: Rolfe Dauz
Simone: Silas Elash
La Ciesca: Rebecca Krouner
Spinelloccio/Notary: David Zelenka
Marco: Krassen Karagiozov
Conductor: Joseph Marcheso
Director: Lorna Haywood
Again, Cecilia Violetta López sang her role in both casts, and again sounded as though her concentration had gone to Suor Angelica. Silas Elash did not disappoint; as always, I wished that his part were bigger. But the singer that particularly attracted my attention was Rolfe Dauz’s Betto. It’s not a large part, but the voice I heard from time to time made me sit up and take notice, and hope that I’ll get to see him again. Once more, the staging and the acting and the effective communication of Puccini’s only comedy made this one a beta-plus.
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