Opera Santa Barbara / Recenze

She falls in love with the young nobleman Alfredo — tenor Nathan Granner, who local audiences are familiar with from his 2018 performance in La Bohème — but their star-crossed love affair is challenged by her health problems, financial woes, and major objections by Alfredo’s father Giorgio Germont, in a standout performance by baritone Joel Balzun.

This powerful production of Rigoletto won over the large audience at the Granada and brought them to their feet for a loud ovation at the finale. Evan Brummel as Rigoletto and Cody Austin as the Duke of Mantua formed a splendid pair of partners for Andrea Carroll, the soprano in the role of Gilda, who won the hearts of many with her vocal prowess and nuanced dramatic performance. Catherine Martin sizzled as Maddalena, and bass Kevin Thompson portrayed an appropriately menacing Sparafucile.

It’s rare to see an opera with both as much new about it and as much to recommend it as As One, which had its Santa Barbara debut last weekend at the Lobero Theatre.