With brilliant singers, a good orchestra and a well working scenopraphic idea, Donizettis opera Don Pasquale, became splendid at The Norwegian Opera in Oslo.

The staging is by Francois de Carpentries and Karine Van Hercke. I enjoyed the many good details. The wellworking scenography Emmanuel Clolus, where I specially appreciated the sliding walls, the see through front in the beginning and the romantic Garden Scene. Costumes by Jorge Jara, where I specially enjoyed the first act
. Conductor Steuart Bedford, brilliant tempis, not boring.

THE SINGERS

Ketil Hugaas and Eli Kristin Hanssveen in Don Pasquale in Oslo, 09. Photo: Erik Berg

I am so happy that operachief Paul Curran has opened up to bring new inspiration in to the Norwegian singing milieu. And in this performance specially to listen to Ketil Hugaas in the titelrole as Don Pasquale. – I do remember him very well from Den siste Nattevakt and from Don Carlos, and now again in a titelrole, where he is splendid. He dont only sing wonderful and with a deepnes and beauty in his bass, but he too can act and play the role as this rich old man, who want to find a vife, mostly for his own entertainment, – but of course too to get chikdrens who can take over the money.

When Oslo have got such a great beautiful new operahouse, where the audience are queing up hoping to get a ticket, then I do agree completely with Paul Curran in his wish and his statement that the quality of his performances and of all the performances shall be of the highest international standard. That is not easily or cheap, as that kind of highest possible quality you cant by on sale at Monoprix, Kiwi or Ica. Therefore it is great that the operachief is inviting guests, singers, regisseurs, choreographers and costumiers to come to Oslo and to bring with them their knowledge, which again is inpiring all the house

. But not only inspiring the house inside, but all the artistic milieu in Norway get this inspiration. And we see, and hear that that is working well.

All the singing group was splendid in Don Pasquale, there was a lot og inspiration. This time Paul Curran and his good staff has brougt to Norway the wonderful young russian tenor Sergey Romanovsky. 

Ketil Hugaas, Eli Kristine Hanssveen, Sergey Romanovsky and Espen Langvik. Photo: Erik Berg

It is very long time since I last had the posibility to enjoy such a beautiful young tenor voice, with splendid qualities, and many high correctly placed beautiful top tunes. I hope he will come back soon. We need such a tenor in the house. In addition it was a pleasure to see him playing, and i do understand that the wonderful soprano Eli Kristine Hansveen falled in love with him. Her coloratura, singing, lightness and dramatically parts, and theatrical playing is great, and that she was permitting her self to overplay as she did was wonderful in this role. I see in her a coming opera star at the Norwegian Opera She has the qualityes, in addition to looking beautiful. Espen Langvik is a handsome, masculin baryton, following very well up to big barytin traditions in the house. The many ensembles with the four leading singers in this little opera were good.

In addition to these four we enjoyed very much the two, more or less not singing roles, where Per Andreas Tønder

Per Andreas Tønder, Eli Kristin Hanssveen and to the left Ketil Hugaas. Photo: Erik Berg

as the assistant Carlotta and notar, as allways, were brilliant. We have enjoyed his good characteric roles of very different type for a longer periode, and enjoy the way he is playing, in addition to that we know that he is a good singer and member of the Norwegian Opera Choir, he has the talent to fulfill this kind of important role in a production. I dont forget him as gay in Pique Dame.

The Butler was a unique study too, brilliantly performed by Stéphane Bonard.

The choreography in the last act didn´t function. It dont help that the big choir shall find out how they shall make it them self. They need an organisation or at least a help to organize their movements, therefore the last act was not good organized, and the brilliant work that the six singers are building up through the first half of the performance is being partly spoiled by the hysterically last act with the choir running around more or less unorganized. And that maked that the finale ensembles and the finale duet didn´t became as great as they deserved, too much unorganized was going on at the same time around them
.

I do know that this is a revival from the old operahouse, and therefore, unfortunately, it dont help that Paul Curran has come and are doing good work by instructing the choir in general, but in this case. Please, If, and hopefully when it shal up again, let a choreographer help them for the next revival.

Eli Kristin Hanssveen, Photo: Erik BergAs allways in Don Pasquale. Happy Ending: Eli Kristin Hanssven and Sergey Romanovsky. Photo: Erik Berg