OCEAN CITY – Sunday night at the Music Pier, Maestro Vince Lee and the Ocean City Pops Orchestra took a trip through some of the most iconic opera arias with three outstanding soloists.
The repertoire included the melodies that are familiar, not only from their originating operas, but tunes that appear in advertisements, cartoon soundtracks, and even spoofs of opera.
Lee opened each half with a medley from “Carmen.” He selected excerpts that demonstrated his usual flair and the orchestra’s wide-ranging abilities. Dynamic contrasts, strong trumpet solos, precision light sections, controlled tempo changes, all added to the musical excitement.
The rest of the evening featured the soloists.
Tenor Angel Raii Gomez reflected Verdi’s opinion of women in “La donna e mobile.” His showy cadenza and high ending set the table for a feast of arias. Translations were on the screens, a helpful supplement to Lee’s explanations. Gomez spoke of how far he had come from his youth “on the border” to a position with the Metropolitan Opera. For “Ah, Mes Amis,” he wowed the audience with nine explosive high Cs. Even the orchestra joined in the approbations. His tone turned darker for the dramatic irony of “Vesti La giubba,” Pagliacci’s sad clown. As an encore, he sang “Nessun dorma” asking the audience to hum along on its lovely refrain.
Soprano Aubry Ballaro joined with Gomez for several duets, but her outstanding solos allowed her the freedom and expression of various coquettish prima donnas. For “Quando me’n vo” she became Musetta as she waltzed through that flirtatious excerpt from “La boheme,” tenderly treating it to a lovely ending. Ballaro explained the fear “Micaela” felt in delivering bad news to Don Jose in “Carmen.” The French horn opening and closing phrases framed her beautiful prayer for courage. In what is perhaps the most famous soprano solo, “O mio babbino caro,” Ballaro handled the octave range changes with easy smoothness.
Baritone Nicholas Provenzale had a special dignity in his solos. “Avant de quitter” is also a prayer of sorts and his serious treatment of the soldier Valentin’s concerns in “Faust” were reflected in the soloist’s and orchestra’s phrasing and expression. Provenzale introduced his “Mein Sehnen, mein Wahnen” from “Die Tote Stadt (The Dead City)” another gentle, soft aria. Provenzale became fierce for “Hai gia vinta la causa” as Figaro’s nemesis.
Each of the soloists came back to the stage for a selection of show tunes. Gomez gave a convincing “Some Enchanted Evening.” Ballaro had a touching “How Could I Ever Know” with Vince Lee at the piano for the only accompaniment. And Provenzale capped the evening with a powerful “Impossible Dream” which showcased not only his formidable voice, but gave the orchestra a stirring role in the high ending.
– STORY and PHOTOS by RICHARD STANISLAW/For the Sentinel