Before each dress rehearsal with a public we all take great care to point out that it is just that, a rehearsal, and anything can happen. Singers may not sing full out, or even at all, we may stop, someone may throw a complete wobbly - whatever......but of course it rarely happens.
Well today there were no wobblies at Lyric's Il trovatore DR - just two splendid covers from the Ryan Center who did what they are superbly trained to do - be there when needed. Erica Strauss and Quinn Kelsey sang Leonora and de Luna from the side of the stage while the principals acted it out silently. Actually Mark Delavan sang much of the first two acts but was ailing, and for Acts 3 and 4 wisely saved himself for the premiere on Saturday by availing himself of his cover. Quinn was in fabulous voice......the real thing. This altogether a great afternoon for the Ryan folks - but let us not overlook in our excitement the excellent straightforward and clear production of this problematical opera by David McVicar and the splendid singing of Dolora Zajic and a more than useful new tenor as Manrico, Walter Fraccaro. Impressive! And the tireless Bruno Bartoletti, approaching his 50th anniversary with Lyric, propelled the whole thing along as splendidly as Verdi could have wished.
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