Worldwide reviews for a worldwide audience
The "Best of" what we saw and heard in opera for the 2004-2005 Season
And the winners are . . .
Seasonal:
[PW] Michael Chioldi & Stefan de Peppo for their performances as Giovani and Leporello in Connecticut Grand Opera & Orchestra's, "Don Giovani" by Mozart.
[JG] Salvatore Licitra for his performance as Chenier in Washington National Opera's production of Andrea Chenier, by Umberto Giordano.
Best Performance in a leading role, male.
Best Performance in a leading role, female
[PW] Amy Johnson for her performance as Cio-Cio-San, independently produced "Madama Butterfly" at the Palace Theater in Waterbury Connecticut. Puccini.
[JG] Majorie Elinor Dix for her performance as Isolde in Virginia Opera's "Tristan & Isolde" by Wagner.
Best Performance in a comprimario role, male
[PW] Darren Anderson for his performance as Don Basilio in Granite State Opera's production of "Le Nozze di Figaro".
[JG] Nmon Ford for his performance as Kurwenal in Virginia Opera's "Tristan & Isolde" by Wagner.
Best Performance in a comprimario role, female.
[PW] Angela Horn for her performance as a Flight Attendant in Boston Lyric Opera's "Flight" by Jonathan Dove.
[JG] Amanda Squitieri for her performance as Esther in Washington National Opera's "Democracy -- An American Comedy" by Scott Wheeler.
Couple with the most sizzle:
[PW] Kristen Chavez and Jeffrey Springer for their performances as Carmen and Don Jose, in Georges Bizet's Carmen, staged by Teatro Lirico d'Europa, Boston.
[JG] Angela Brown and Gregg Baker for their performances as Aida and Amonasro in Opera Company of Philadelphia's "Aida" by Verdi.
Best Lighting
[PW] Julie Duro for Connecticut Opera's, "Elixir of Love" by Gaetano Donizetti
[JG] Felice Ross, for Washington National Opera's, "Andrea Chenier"
Best Sets:
[PW] Ercole Sormani, for Connecticut Opera's. "Elixir of Love" by Donizetti.
[JG] Gerald Scarfe, Washington National Opera's, "The Magic Flute" by Mozart.
Best Performance by an orchestra:
[PW] Willie Anthony Waters for Connecticut Opera's "Hansel & Gretel" by Humperdink.
[JG] Steve White for Baltimore Opera's, "I Puritani" by Vincenzo Bellini.
Best Performance by a chorus:
[PW] Opera Boston's use of Boston Baroque for its production of "Alceste" by Christopher Gluck.
[JG] Washington National Opera's chorus for its production of "Il Travatore" by Verdi.
Best Costumes:
[PW] Howard Tsvi Kaplan, for Connecticut Opera's, "Hansel & Gtetel, by Humperdink.
[JG] Gerald Scarfe for Washington National Opera's, "The Magic Flute" by Mozart.
Most Dramatic Moment:
[PW] Randolph Locke as Judge Danforth in Opera Boston's, "The Crucible" by Robert Ward.
[JG] Placido Domingo for his entrance in Washington National Opera's, "Luisa Fernanda", by Frederico M. Torruba.
Most Memorable Moment:
[PW] The ballet (sleep) sequence at the end of Act I, from Connecticut Opera's, Hansel &Gretel", by Humperdink.
[JG] Dwayne Croft, hanging from the mast in Washington National Opera's, "Billy Budd" by Benjamin Britten.
Best overall opera of the year:
[PW] Boston Lyric Opera's production of Tchaikovsky's, "Eugene Onegin", Stephen Lord, conducting.
[JG] Virginia Opera's production of "Tristan & isolde", Peter Mark conducting.
Summer Opera:
Best Performance, leading male:
Richard Conrad for his performnce as Schicchi in Cape Cod Opera's "Gianni Schicchi", Puccini.
Best Performance , leading female:
Maureen Francis for her performance as Cendrillon in Summer Opera Theater Company of D.C., "Cendrillon" by Jules Massenet.
Best Performance in a comprimario role, male.
Todd Thomas for his performance as Scarpia in Opera North's, "Tosca" by Puccini.
Best Performance in a comprimario role, female:
Brandy Hawkins for her performance as Inez in Opera North's, "The Gondoliers", by Gilbert & Sullivan.
Best Performance by an orchestra:
Louis Burkot, conductor, Opera North's "Tosca" and "The Gondoliers".
Best Performance by a chorus:
Louis Burkot, Opera North's, "Tosca" by Puccini.
Couple with the most sizzle:
Gale Fuller and John Whittlesey, for their performance in Cape Cod Opera's production of Gilbert & Sullivan's, "Trouble in Tahiti".
Best Lighting:
Anne B. Kiefer, Cape Cod Opera's "Trouble in Tahiti."
Best Costumes:
Susan Memmott-Alfred, for costumes in Opera North's, "Tosca".
Best Sets:
Yoshinori Tanokura for the sets in Opera North's, "Tosca"
Best opera of the summer season:
Louis Burkot, conduting Opera North's, "Tosca".
