Anna Tonno, Ashley Galvani Bell, and Alla Milchtein
Gorgeous arias! Melodic duets! Riveting storytelling! Lavish costuming! Convincing acting! Effective set! Were we at the opera? No, we were not but our involvement matched that which we experience at the opera house. As a matter of fact, we were at La Espacia de Cultura at New York University, enjoying a musical event created by DIVAria Productions, helmed by Ashley Galvani Bell.
We have reviewed a number of performance by this superb soprano; however it is the three DIVAria Productions she created (at least the three that we have seen) that set her apart from other singers. Like us, Ms. Bell seems captivated by the Bel Canto period of the early 19th century and her strong but agile instrument lends itself generously to the fioritura of the period. For this work, Mrs. Rossini Meets Madame Malibran, her stage partner mezzo-soprano Anna Tonno took the role of Madame Malibran (née Maria Garcia of the famous Garcia family, which brought opera to New York) whilst Ms. Bell portrayed Isabella Colbran Rossini.
Both women were superstars of the world opera stage who had interesting lives as well, lives worth dramatizing, as we learned. Both singers were as effective dramatically as they were musically with Ms. Bell portraying the older Colbran and Ms. Tonno bringing the younger Ms. Malibran to vivid life. Early in the evening, we witnessed Colbran meeting the child Maria and the portrayal was so dramatically convincing that Ms. Tonno completely submerged her womanly identity and became a six-year-old! What a feat of acting! It was effective in spite of the lower register and timbre of her beautifully colored instrument. Sadly, the legendary mezzo-soprano did not lead a long life but she did lead a rather colorful one and survived a horrific horseback riding accident.
Colbran presented a rather more settled and resigned mien, finally accepting the romantic blandishments of the young Rossini and surviving a disappointing marriage with the philandering composer. It was so interesting to watch events unfold through the words of the women in letters , amplified by arias composed by Rossini, Michele Carafa, and Saverio Mercadante, as well as songs composed by the two superstars themselves.
The flow of the evening was so intense that we never looked at our program! In spite of our familiarity with Bel Canto the arias and songs we heard were new to our ears and consistently delightful. By means of Ms. Bell's scholarship and judicious editing we felt as if we knew these two divine women. Let us give credit to the fine directing of Anton Armendariz Diaz and the accompaniment by Alla Milchtein. Was there an opera ready to spring forth? Perhaps, but at the very least we hope Ms. Bell will "take this show on the road". Anyone who loves opera will share in our delight.
© meche kroop
