Classical Concert Reviews Cinci

@uc_ccm concluded its Graduate Opera Series for the 2024-25 academic year with a spectacular production of one of Benjamin Britten’s most underrated masterpieces, his 1960 operatic adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Directed by Robin Guarino, this production gave the opera a science-fiction flair to a story of quarreling lovers, comic merriment and ethereal fantasy, complete with a UFO as a central set piece.
From the start, the opera was full of standout performers who brought Shakespeare’s immortal words vividly to life. Contralto Natalie Corrigan brought a wonderfully smoky, almost seductive patina to the role of Oberon, with a full-hearted and lush voice to match. Soprano Ahhyun Baek was utterly transcendent as the fairy queen Tytania, with a pure, angelic tone full of wonder. Tenor Logan Wagner, soprano Clara Reeves, mezzo-soprano Kayla Sconiers and baritone Kade Bennett turned in winning, luminous performances as the four quarreling lovers at the heart of the story. Puck, a spoken role who functions as a kind of Greek chorus to the rest of the onstage action, was given a fun, very engaging performance by Cassandra Reeves.
The six actors who attempt a play within the play included comic and sensitive turns from baritone Cole Stephenson as Bottom, bass Andrew Hallam as Quince and tenor Levi Capesius as Flute. Excellent performances were also given by Alea Vernon, Natalie Almeter, Lily Scalisi and Yi Ding as the four principal fairies who serve Tytania.
The CCM student orchestra assembled for this production, under the direction of guest conductor William Langley, played Britten’s atmospheric and ebullient music with vivid color and refinement, particularly in its parts for harps, celesta, harpsichord, trumpet, horns and percussion.
What a rare treat it is to see an opera not often encountered outside of Europe performed by a group of singers of this caliber, and I give hearty thanks to CCM for programming this work. Eagerly looking to more operas like this in the near future from this amazing jewel of a music school which Cincinnati is incredibly lucky to have.