MISSION

We are here to encourage the development of gifted young singers and to stimulate the growth of New York City's invaluable chamber opera companies. But we will not neglect the Metropolitan Opera either. Get ready for bouquets and brickbats.

Friday, August 16, 2013

FABULOUS FABIANO

The worthy Santa Fe Concert Association continued it's Festival of Song Wednesday with a galvanizing recital by tenor Michael Fabiano. Mr.Fabiano wisely chose a mixed program of art songs and operatic arias which he delivered with passiionate intensity, to the delight of the audience at the Scottish Rite Temple. Mr. Fabiano has a generous Italianate sound and seems to connect deeply with his material without courting the audience. He opened with "Questa o quella" from Verdi's Rigoletto which fully conveyed the Duke's arrogance and licentiousness. Following, he sang two songs by Henri Duparc; "La Vie Anterieure" opened with dellicacy but soon became intense. Joseph Illick on the piano had a chance to shine here and, in "Phidyle", the tenor manifested a gorgeous messa di voce. Two songs by Richard Strauss followed and Mr. Fabiano's performance of "Zueignung" was markedly different from that of Mr. Appleby's last Sunday. In Caecilie, the singer seemed to be suffering deeply from his passion. Puccini's "Mentia l'avviso" followed and then two passionate songs by Tosti. In "L'ultima canzone" (more suffering) our tenor showed a facility at the bottom of his register. A wonderful aria from Verdi's Il Corsaro was followed by a strong cabaletta, following which the tenor portrayed the haunted hero of Puccini's Le Villi in "Torna ai felici di". The audience demanded two encores and Mr. F. performed Federico's Lament from Cilea's L'Arlesiana followed by "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's Turandot. It was a stunning recital and the only thing missing was something light-hearted.

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