May 17, 2018
Classical Voice North America review of Morning Star
The performance circumstances allowed an immersive operatic experience in which the singers moved along the aisles of the seating area, only inches away from listeners. And that felt right considering the libretto’s emphasis on characters over events. The cast acted with remarkable freedom despite the fact that the main performing area was the front of the synagogue, separated by a fair distance from the chamber ensemble of 16 players in the rear of the room. Yet the cohesion achieved by conductor Geoffrey McDonald seemed effortless.