Meyerbeer: L'Africaine

The story

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.

Cast

P Plácido DomingoVasco Da Gama S Shirley VerrettSélika R Ruth Ann SwensonInès J Justino DíazNélusko P Patricia SpenceAnna K Kevin AndersonDon Alvaro M Michael DevlinDon Pedro P Philip SkinnerDon Diego M Mark DelavanHigh Priest of Brahma J Joseph RouleauGrand Inquisitor of Lisbon S Sigmund SeigelA priest M Maurizio ArenaConductor