Meyerbeer: L'Africaine (1988)
This was a 1988 revival of a 1971 production that teamed Domingo (Vasco da Gama) and Verrett (Selika - both then very much in their prime) in Meyerbeer's discursive swan-song. Seventeen years on, they are more statuesque than sexy, but both give larger-than-life performances that contain moments of completely thrilling vocalism. The casting is very strong, with the exception of Justino Diaz's Nelusko, which has strong presence but not much vocal allure. As Inez, Vasco da Gama's fiancee and rival for Shirley Verrett, Ruth Ann Swneson sings with great beauty and has impressive stage presence, very much holding her own in the confrontation with Verrett in the last act. Domingo is refulgent of tone and dramatically convincing, and he and Verrett strike sparks. She really comes into her own in one of the most preposterous mad-scenes in all opera, where she is slowly poisoned by the scent of a giant tree, contriving to make this dramatically truthful and even moving.
Directors: Brian Large, Lotfi Mansouri.
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Plácido Domingo as Vasco Da Gama |
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Shirley Verrett as Sélika |
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Ruth Ann Swenson as Inès |
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Justino Díaz as Nélusko |
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Patricia Spence as Anna |
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Kevin Anderson as Don Alvaro |
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Michael Devlin as Don Pedro |
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Philip Skinner as Don Diego |
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Mark Delavan as High Priest of Brahma |
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Joseph Rouleau as Grand Inquisitor of Lisbon |
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Sigmund Seigel as A priest |
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Maurizio Arena as Conductor |
| Writing | Eugène Scribe | Writer |
| Directing | Brian Large | Director |
| Sound | Giacomo Meyerbeer | Original Music Composer |
| Directing | Lotfi Mansouri | Director |
