Last updated 05:41, Friday, 17 October 2008

Lakeland Opera, Theatre by the Lake, KeswickIn their ‘fallow’ year between full-scale productions, Lakeland Opera presented a gala programme of well-known operatic excerpts which fully confirmed their reputation for versatility and accomplishment.

Chorus and lead-singers were re-joined for the occasion by three professional former soloists – Michaela Bloom (soprano), Yvonne Fontane (mezzo) and Anando Mukerjee (tenor).

In solo arias all revealed fine voices, excellent stage-presence and dramatic flair. Particularly effective were Michaela’s Casta Diva, by Bellini, hauntigly backed by the women’s chorus, and Anando’s Flower Song (Bizet), while Yvonne – the most experienced and polished of the guests – brought great intensity to large-scale pieces by Mascagni and Verdi.

Encouraged by their professional partners Eileen Lithgow, Lorna Sherrin, John Brice, Ron Eadington, James Johnson and Iain Nicholson all rose magnificently to that challenge. Highlights included Donizetti’s Lucia Sextet, the Bella Figlia Quartet from Rigoletto, the first Quintet from Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte and Offenbach’s Barcarolle.

The company’s separate contributions were consistently impressive. The chorus was responsive to mood, rhythmically secure, clear in diction.

There were winning solos – Iain Nicholson’s telling Nessum Dorma, James Johnson’s fiery Iago Credo – plus Eileen and Iain’s touching Madame Butterfly duet and a vividly witty Boheme quartet.

From first to last the proceedings were in the safe hands of Lakeland Opera’s outstanding musical director, David Sutton, former repetiteur at the Welsh and English National Operas.

As inspirer of his company and a remarkably sensitive accompanist, his was a tour-de-force. This hugely enjoyable Gala included several tasters for Lakeland’s 2009 production, Verdi’s Nabucco.

On this showing no opera-lover can afford to miss it.

BRIAN RICHARDSON