LA RONDINE April 2008
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Exceptional staging by Mansouri
Art Rizzo - Highland Park

From the first note, this opera was a hit! Excellent performances from the singers, beautiful sets & costumes made this an evening to remember. One aspect that I wish to comment on was the exceptional direction. Dr. DiChiera is wise in hiring top notch stage directors like L. Mansouri & B. Uzan. Unfortunately, he also continues to hire a director who manages to destroy every opera that he stages....M. Cardoni who will be staging La Traviata. I find myself closing my eyes & listening to the music because I get so frustrated with his poor staging. I truly believe that staging is just as important as the vocal aspect of an opera. This beautiful opera, despite the glorious singing, would not have been as sucessful without Mr. Mansouri's exceptional staging.

Dress rehearsal a hit with students
Patricia Turner-Brown - Detroit

I brought a group of 32 students from Barbara Jordan School to the Friday, April 18th dress rehearsal of La Rondine. My students truly enjoyed the performance. Several were moved to tears. Thank you for providing the opportunity for this group of young people to broaden their cultural horizons. They have been asking me when can we go again. Again, thank you for the opportunity.

Musically,
Patricia Turner-Brown
Barbara Jordan School

Great theater
Mary Andrews - Farmington Hills

Dear Dr. Di Chiera:

How did you and Puccini do it: Create Paris in the springtime, a theater filled with sweet sounds, and the promise of youthful romance all masterfully produced on stage? Brilliantly, Puccini's Magda rises above her romantic dilemma. Her options limited to being caged, forever silent about her past, or to return to her previous station. Neither choice is desired, but wisely the 'swallow' chooses freedom for both herself and her lover. The other choice would have destroyed them. It is great theater and it is great fun to see a woman triumphant though saddened! Puccini was ahead of his time! Many thanks to Caruso, Chacon-Cruz and to the spectacular Robertson.

Lovely operatic experience
Janice Webb - Rochester Hills

This was the first time I have seen La Rondine and I am so pleased that Michigan Opera Theatre chose to perform this Puccini opera. Presenting this love story in the spring was perfect timing for this opera as the music, singing and scenery transported me to a lovely operatic experience as if for the moment existing in a Parisian impressionist painting. Caruso and Chacon-Cruz and the rest of the cast provided a wonderful performance! I hope we do not have to wait another 36 years for this Puccini opera to return to the Michigan Opera Theatre stage.

Read other comments from the 2007-08 season
Cyrano | Figaro | The Sleepwalker | La Rondine | La Traviata

photos by John Grigaitis