An Enchanted Evening : The Magic of Opera

An Enchanted Evening: The Magic of Opera:  a concert performed by members of Opera Viva at St Mary’s College, Everest Road, Crosby on Saturday, 4th November, 2023 

It was on a cold, wet autumnal evening when we gathered at St Mary’s College to support our great friends from ‘Opera Viva’.  Not the biggest of audiences, but that wasn’t going to stop members of Opera Viva delivering their ‘Aim’ … which is to bring ‘Opera to All’.  The title of the concert ‘THE MAGIC OF OPERA’ was used as a link to their next major production … Mozart’s – ‘The Magic Flute’ which will be staged in May 2024. We all look forward to that! 

The Production Team… I think this is the first time that I’d had the pleasure and privilege to see the very talented Ben Draper (Musical Director) at work! Ben studied at the Northern College of Music and has been fortunate enough to act as Assistant Conductor with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the BBC Philharmonic.  Ben and the singers were accompanied by the very accomplished musician Robert Chesters (Accompanist) … what a wonderful job these two did… it’s such a privilege and a pleasure to watch and listen to such accomplished people doing what they excel in… well done guys!

Our Narrator for the evening was the ever so talented David Palmer, who did an excellent job of keeping us abreast of things to come… The Concert was performed in two parts…

Part One… commenced with …
- ‘The Chorus’ opened the evening with Handel’s  ‘Chorus of the Enchanted Islanders’ from his opera ‘Alcina’.
- ‘Pam Ashcroft’ then sang ‘Homeland’ from Johann Strauss’s ‘Die Fledermaus’
- ‘Annette Reis-Dunne and Lauren Estlin’ sang ‘The Barcarolle’ and ‘David Palmer’ sang ‘Scintilla Diamante’ both from Offenbach’s ‘The Tales of Hoffman’
- ‘Marie Williams’ then sang ‘Che Faro Senza Euridice’ from Gluck’s ‘Orpheus & Euridice
- The Chorus performed ‘The Chorus of Scottish Refugees’ from Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’, - followed by ‘Steve Riordan’s’ rendition of ‘Iris and Osiris’ from Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’
- Annette Reis-Dunne then sang ‘On my Lips Every Kiss is like Wine’ from Lehar’s ‘Giuditta’.
- The Finale from Part 1 was from Donizetti ‘s ‘Elixir of Love’ which  Opera Viva performed in 2021 lead by David Palmer as Dulcamara and the Chorus.

Part Two…opened with
- Soloist Marie Williams and the Chorus gave us a beautiful rendition of Purcell’s ‘Dido’s Lament’ and the final chorus.
- ‘Bernadette O’Keeffe’ then charmed us with Handel’s ‘Lascia ch’io Pianga’ from ‘Rinaldo’
- ‘Gretta Southern’ then sang ‘Siebel’s Aria’ by Charles Gounod from ‘Faust’.
- ‘Annette Reis-Dunne’ was again front and centre with another beautiful rendition of Puccini’s ‘Tu che di Gel sei Cinta’ from Turandot.
-  ‘Steve Riordan’ then gave us a ‘taste’ of Opera Viva’s next challenge - The Magic Flute with his interpretation of Mozart’s ‘Within these Holy Portals.
-  We then had the sweet tones of ‘Lauren Estlin’ with a ballad ‘My Lord, a Suppliant at your Feet I Kneel’ from Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Iolanthe’. 
- ‘Marie Williams’ returned to the stage with ‘Puccini’s ‘Musetta’s Waltz Song’ from La Boheme
- ‘Pat Maitland’ gave us a wonderful rendition of ‘Nella Fantasia’ (‘In My Fantasy’) from the film ‘The Mission’
- ‘Carla Hay’ gave us her rendition of ‘Voce di Donna’, an aria from ‘La Giaconda by Ponchielli
- ‘Pam Ashcroft’ shook the rafters of the college with her rendition of ‘Vissi d’Arte’ from Puccini’s Tosca.
-  ‘David Palmer’ not only sang but acted his way through ‘Largo al Factotum’ from Rossini’s Barber of Saville
-  The Chorus brought the concert to a close with their rendition of Verdi’s ‘Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves’ from Nabucco

Never one to sit on the fence… if I may be allowed to identify my favourites…  and I stress these are ‘MY’ favourites… ask anyone else in attendance that evening and they may well have selected others… but these are mine….

1. I thought Marie Williams’ rendition of ‘Che Faro’ from Gluck’s - ‘Orpheus & Euridice was superb, be proudMarie!
2. Annette Reis-Dunne’s - ‘On my Lips every Kiss is like Wine’ from Lehar’s ‘Giuditta’ was another amazing rendition.  Sounded effortless… sung to perfection… amazing Annette!
3. Then we had the power of ‘Pam Ashcroft’ who as previously stated shook the rafters with her rendition of ‘Vissi d’Arte’ from Puccini’s Tosca… wow!
4.  From ‘power’ to ‘soft melodic’ tones of Lauren Estlin and her rendition of the ballad ‘My Lord, a Suppliant at your Feet I Kneel’ from Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Iolanthe’.
5. I really do like to listen and watch Steve Riordan… his rendition of ‘Within these Holy Portals’ from Mozart’s .. The Magic Flute was another great rendition.
6. Finally… I again make mention of David Palmers “Largo al Factotum” from the ‘Barber of Seville’… which I mentioned in my review from Opera Viva’s Spring Concert, but again David sang and acted this out so impressively!

Honestly, and this isn’t a ‘cop out’… there wasn’t much that I didn’t enjoy from the evening… I think we all left St Mary’s College feeling so much better than when we arrived… congrats to one and all for a wonderful evening of friendship and opera!

Thank you once again Opera Viva, for coming up with a diverse programme which was both absorbing and entertaining! Special thanks to Viv Sharp for looking after my wife and I throughout the night… I’m still no expert, but already looking forward to my next chance to see you guys perform.

Stay safe and keep well
“Stronger Together”

Jim Briscoe
NODA North West
District 6 Rep

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