Festival Opera Finds the Laughs Inside Handel’s Alcina

Festival Opera, in cooperation with the San Francisco Early Music Society, staged George Frideric Handel's opera Alcina at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Directed by Zachary Gordin and conducted by Derek Tam, the production was described by the San Francisco Classical Voice review as an entertaining, well-performed, and often very funny take on one of Handel's Baroque operas. The opera is based on Ludovico Ariosto's epic poem Orlando Furioso. Alcina is a sorceress who enchants her lovers. She is now in love with a warrior named Ruggiero, but under her spell Ruggiero has completely forgotten his fiancée, Bradamante. Bradamante, who has come to the island in search of Ruggiero, has disguised herself in men's clothing, which gives rise to the opera's romantic tangles and comic situations. Rather than a serious reading, the director chose to bring out the humor hidden in the libretto. In this production, Nikola Printz shone in the title role of Alcina. The critic praised Printz's powerful stage presence and remarkable vocal range. Courtney Miller gave a resplendent performance as Ruggiero, and Shawnette Sulker, as Morgana, kept the performance warm with charming, comic playing despite a few vocal slips. Sara Couden as Bradamante, Isaiah Musik-Ayala as Melisso, Spencer Greene as Oronte, and Nina Jones as Oberto rounded out the cast. According to the review, Peter Crompton's colorful projections brought Alcina's island vividly to life, and Marina Polakoff's lavish 18th-century costumes suited the world of Handel's time. Derek Tam led the opera with brisk energy and also played harpsichord at the June 19 performance. The result was a production showing that Handel's music can be both grand and playful.

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