Don Pasquale – G. Donizetti:
Martinborough Town Hall, February 9th, 2019
Producer: Georgia Jamieson Emms. Director: Jacqueline Coats. Accompanist: Bruce Greenfield
Wanderlust Opera was founded by Featherston soprano, Georgia Jamieson Emms, to realise her dream of creating a company to take “…fun, affordable, accessible opera performed in English” to smaller centres for their enjoyment. Passionate about opera, it is also a vehicle for Georgia to grow new audiences for the genre.
Don Pasquale is an opera comedy (opera buffa). Broadly, it tells the story of a foolish old bachelor (Stuart Coats) who has romantic aspirations to take a young woman, Norina, (Georgia Jamieson Emms) as his wife. Thrown into the mix is Pasquale’s nephew, Ernesto (Barbara Paterson) who is also in love with Norina. Dr Malatesta, (Craig Beardsworth) a wily manipulator, sorts out this imbroglio to Norina’s and Ernesto’s advantage, leaving Don Pasquale as alone at the end as he was at the beginning of the opera. Amidst all this silliness is Donizetti’s sublime, melodic score – beautiful arias, ensemble and orchestra (Bruce Greenfield-piano). The performers gave polished performances as they sung, acted and danced their way through the opera. Jacqueline Coats sets were attractive and deceptively simple.
Georgia Jamieson Emms reduced the opera seamlessly to accommodate two 45 minute halves. She wrote several contemporary references into the libretto, particularly for Don Pasquale, as he attempted to woo Norina. Donald Trump, and his success with attractive young women, was a role model for the Don. He appeared before Norina in a wig unmistakeably modelled on Trump’s unique hairdo. Norina saw through the ruse and promptly scooped it off his head with her unfurled umbrella, much to the delight of the audience.
Wanderlust Opera is a great little company. Being first up in a renovated, untested venue will always carry risks with it. Like the true professionals they are, Georgia Jamieson Emms and her company adapted to the environment they found themselves in to give a classy performance. The audience applauded enthusiastically at the conclusion of the opera. WELL DONE Wanderlust Opera. Please come again. Winifred Bull
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