|
Reviews of Le Roi et le fermier
"Didier Rousselet a réalisé un travail ingénieux. ... Surtout, la codification des gestes et des postures, loin de tout réalisme, inscrit la mise en scène dans l'esthétique naïve de l'opéra-comique à ses débuts. Ryan Brown mène avec vivacité un orchestre - sur instruments d'époque - aux sonorités goûteuses. Il apporte également tout son soutien à une distribution homogène, idéalement adaptée à ce genre de musique ... Ce spectacle est à marquer d'une pierre blanche dans les annales versaillaises, pour l'intelligence de sa mise en scène, la beauté de ses décors et sa qualité musicale."
Translation: "Didier Rousselet has come up with an ingenious solution. ... Above all, the stylization of gestures and postures, eschewing any realism, places the directing squarely in the naïve esthetic of early opéra-comique. Ryan Brown directs with vivacity a period instrument orchestra of lush sonorities. He is also fully supportive of a homogenous cast, perfectly suited to this kind of music ... This production should be noted and remembered in the annals of Versailles, for the intelligence of its staging, the beauty of its sets, and its high musical quality."
--Jacques Bonnaure, Opéra Magazine (France), March 2012
Read the full translation
"Ryan Brown, Opera Lafayette's artistic director, conducted a polished and vibrant reading of the gracious, colorful score ... Dominique Labelle was a winning Jenny; Delores Ziegler, vivid as Richard's Mother; and the appealing young soprano Yulia Van Doren, delightful ... the rich-voiced young baritone Thomas Dolié ... and David Newman, as his sidekick, both sang with panache."
--Vivien Schweitzer, The New York Times, January 29, 2012
Read the full review at nytimes.com
"It was before a full house that the Opera Lafayette troupe performed on January 21 in Washington the modern world premiere of Monsigny's Le Roi et le fermier. ... On paper, this opéra comique typical of those of the second half of the eighteenth century ... had little chance to seduce an American audience. It is nevertheless under the cheers ofthe public that the performance ended. ... the Opera Lafayette troupe exalted [Le Roi et le fermier's] comical and innovative aspects: finesse and transparence of the orchestra, noteworthy diction of the singers, ... lively direction by Ryan Brown, and ... a stage direction sober but crafty by Didier Rousselet."
--Thierry Hillériteau, Le Figaro, January 31, 2012 (translated by N. Kettaneh)
Read the full review at lefigaro.fr (subscription required)
"The early music scene in our region -- the early music scene, period -- is particularly fortunate to have Opera Lafayette as a major player. ... Opera Lafayette assembled a lively cast ... The orchestra of period instruments sounded limber and polished. Company founder/artistic director Ryan Brown conducted with obvious affection, keen interest in subtleties of the scoring, and an effective pulse that kept things flowing nicely. ... [Director Didier] Rousselet and another excellent actor, Monica Neagoy... could hardly have been more engaging"
--Tim Smith, The Baltimore Sun, January 24, 2012
Read the full review at baltimoresun.com
"Ryan Brown's company Opera Lafayette has achieved a popularity uncommon for such a niche ensemble. ... an engaging stylization, thanks to tongues held firmly in cheeks, and costumes ... that gave a neatly tailored, period look to the proceedings. ... Sharp sang with the clear, handsome timbre he has possessed over a long career, and Labelle's mix of vibrancy and creamy tone gave welcome weight to her character's lovely arias. ... Brown drew crisp, spirited playing from his period-instrument orchestra, and ... allowed Monsigny's piquant orchestration to register splendidly."
--Joe Banno, The Washington Post, January 22, 2012
Read the full review at washingtonpost.com
"The early music scene in our region -- the early music scene, period -- is particularly fortunate to have Opera Lafayette as a major player. ... Opera Lafayette assembled a lively cast ... The orchestra of period instruments sounded limber and polished. Company founder/artistic director Ryan Brown conducted with obvious affection, keen interest in subtleties of the scoring, and an effective pulse that kept things flowing nicely. ... [Director Didier] Rousselet and another excellent actor, Monica Neagoy... could hardly have been more engaging"
--Charles Downey, The Classical Review, January 24, 2012
Read the full review at theclassicalreview.com
"Monsigny's music is rich with the elegance and grace that characterized the 18th-century style galant, but it is also surprisingly dramatic and descriptive. During the interlude between the first and second acts, the orchestra depicts the storm with vivid dissonances and tempestuous rhythmic imagery, expertly enlivened by Opera Lafayette's period ensemble and the direction of Brown."
--Steven Tietjen, Opera Pulse, January 30, 2012
Read the full review at operapulse.com
Other reviews:
DC Theater Scene
Bachtrack
MD Theater Guide
Muse Baroque (translation)
|
