"Director gets the balance just right"

La Bohème

Shrewsbury Music Hall

Shropshire Star - 26 Sept 2007

The 2007 Shropshire Music Trust season opened on Monday with a performance of Puccini's La Bohème, by The Mid Wales Opera touring company.

This tale of love, humour and tragedy in the artistic quarter of 19th century Paris saw director Martin Lloyd-Evans strike the balance just right with a cast of superb singers who could also act with freedom.

Keith Darlington's direction was sensitive and dramatic with only a few instances of over-enthusiasm obscuring the voices.

The contrast between the pairs of lovers Mimi and Rodolfo (Rebecca von Lipinski and Christopher Steele) and Musetta and Marcello (Alycia Fashae and David Stout) was portrayed with attention to the lurking humour in the latter as well as the passion and foreboding tragedy of the former.

And there was no doubting the seismic shift in mood during Act Four with a heart-wrenching final scene from Muni and Rodolfo. In the previous act in Cafe Momus there was more very thoughtful drama with a dance scene at tines reminiscent of Marcel Marceau.

For sheer musical quality, Christopher Steele's voice thrills without ever being forced in volume or too much vibrato. Light and airy at times, the depth was there when needed and sat well with Rebecca von Lipinski's limpid, articulate yet powerful voice. David Stout as Marcello deserves special mention for his versatility.

Richard Duncan

Last Updated : 07/12/2007