Tidligere produksjonsanmeldelser
5Olwalia and Bell are both "resident artists" at Pittsburgh Opera, early career singers training at the company, and both delivered their roles with command and finesse, pivoting seamlessly between characters and speaking and singing.
The performers are excellent. We've heard little of baritone Brandon Bell until last evening, and the impression he made was one that makes his name on future cast lists a welcome sight. He sings with much warmth and steadiness of tone, and with neatly phrased, clear diction. The score allows little in the way of a sustained sampling of his range, but the little that did was promising. His voice seems to be a large one, not one in need of any amplification, so, again, we'll look forward to hearing much more of him in the 2023-24 lineup.
The deep and golden tones of Brandon Bell, as "Pa" Zegner, were on full display and at their best, as well, and he acted the role with the same attention to detail that he also applies to his singing.
The residents typically fill the casts for these contemporary shows, and they did so Saturday with aplomb. Particularly excellent were Fran Daniel Laucerica as Miles, with a sweet tenor imbued with a refreshing optimism in the face of the rest of the opera's gloom, and Brandon Bell as the head of the family, whose frustration was palpable in his rich baritone.
Baritone Brandon Bell as Gomez — a role practically written to steal the show — was rib-tickling and robust. In his FWO debut, his comic timing and deft use of pantomime elevated the character and the entire production. It’s a certainty that he will be returning to the FWO stage in other roles before long.
