OPERA REVIEW OF CAPITOL OPERA'S PRODUCTION OF

DIDO & AENEAS / THE IMPRESARIO

 

Patricia Beach-Smith, the Sacramento Bee Arts Critic - 06/19/2000

"Double bill stylish, with strong voices."

Henry Purcell's melodrama "Dido and Aeneas" and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's hilarious comedy "The Impresario" make the perfect double bill as played stylishly and sung convincingly at Capitol Opera Sacramento. That "The Impresario" is a satire about an opera company producing "Dido and Aeneas" made Friday's effort even more enjoyable. The twin production seemed to lack nothing as it exploited the talents of this small Carmichael Company. The Purcell work has the appearance of an "Ode to a Grecian (or better yet, Carthaginian) Urn," a visual feast of well-staged tableaux against scenic artist Roger Smith's luscious view of the Mediterranean through Grecian columns.

Company producer Kathleen Torchia-Sizemore and Lanny Malfar's staging and the appropriately dry, but surprisingly pleasing Baroque-style singing by the principals and chorus (carefully directed by Kirsten Zadekia Xanthippe), honor this 311 year-old opera.

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