Meyerbeer: L'Africaine

Meyerbeer: L'Africaine

G 1988 · 189 min · ★ 7.5 · Music

This was a 1988 revival of a 1971 production that teamed Domingo (Vasco da Gama) and Verrett (Selika - both then very much in their prime) in Meyerbeer's discursive swan-song. Seventeen years on, they are more statuesque than sexy, but both give larger-than-life performances that contain moments of completely thrilling vocalism. The casting is very strong, with the exception of Justino Diaz's Nelusko, which has strong presence but not much vocal allure. As Inez, Vasco da Gama's fiancee and rival for Shirley Verrett, Ruth Ann Swneson sings with great beauty and has impressive stage presence, very much holding her own in the confrontation with Verrett in the last act. Domingo is refulgent of tone and dramatically convincing, and he and Verrett strike sparks. She really comes into her own in one of the most preposterous mad-scenes in all opera, where she is slowly poisoned by the scent of a giant tree, contriving to make this dramatically truthful and even moving.

Directed by Brian Large · Written by Eugène Scribe

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Cast

Plácido Domingo Vasco Da Gama
Shirley Verrett Sélika
Ruth Ann Swenson Inès
Justino Díaz Nélusko
Patricia Spence Anna
Kevin Anderson Don Alvaro
Michael Devlin Don Pedro
Philip Skinner Don Diego
Mark Delavan High Priest of Brahma
Joseph Rouleau Grand Inquisitor of Lisbon
Sigmund Seigel A priest
Maurizio Arena Conductor

Make it a double feature

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Meyerbeer: L'Africaine

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