Profile reviews
3Best of all, though, is Mercedes Arcurí as Minka. It's the opera's most vocally demanding role, rewarded with several of its most treasurable moments, notably the nocturne duet with Alexina in the third act, and the wonderfully knowing and allusive duet that follows with her lover Nangis, the excellent Luigi Boccia. When Arcurí is on stage, you quickly realise what a fine and idiomatic piece this is. (Martin Kettle / The guardian.co.uk)
Opera can enlighten you through narrative, or keep you keen by humour, but without a good cast a director is impotent: Mercedes Arcuri was the surprise package. Small in stature, but big in voice, her singing is never at any moment less than vibrant or enriching. A duet with Nathalie Paulin was technically challenging so late into the opera but was delivered with aplomb" "Arcuri also has an actor’s instinct"
Past Production Reviews
1The performance of the show is perhaps the most complete that we have seen in recent years at the Zarzuela. Beatriz San Juan's scenography , enhanced by the strident lighting of Valentín Álvarez , has a frankly impressive force. Sol Picó's choreographies disturb and move in equal measure. In another order of things would be the artistic team Each character in the plot unfolds into a singer and an actor / dancer / reciter. Sticking to the musical chapter we will not stop giving a closed ovation to the singers who brilliantly gave voice to the troubles of Liríope, Amor, Delfa and la Ninfa
