Allyson McHardy / Recenzijas

Among the Canadians, mezzo Allyson McHardy is all creamy, dark magic as Jupiter’s jealous wife, Juno (and Ino, Semele’s sister). Soprano Katherine Whyte is also excellent as Juno’s sidekick, Iris. The visiting Americans do a fine job, with bass Steven Humes a stout Cadmus (Semele’s father) and Somnus, the god of sleep. Counter-tenor Anthony Roth Costanzo makes an impressive show of his physical prowess as Athamas, Semele’s spurned fiancé. But while tenor William Burden, as Jupiter, has a fine voice, he rarely seemed at ease with the florid demands of Handel’s bravura arias at the production’s opening night on Wednesday at the Four Seasons Centre. Italian conductor Rinaldo Alessandrini wrings a fine, period-style sound from the COC Orchestra, giving Handel’s divine music all the lift and lilt it needs.