Meyerbeer: L'Africaine
Meyerbeer: L'Africaine

Meyerbeer: L'Africaine

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1988
3h 9m
7.0(1 votes)
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Overview

This was a 1988 revival of a 1971 production that teamed Domingo (Vasco da Gama) and Verrett (Selika - both then very much in their prime) in Meyerbeer's discursive swan-song. Seventeen years on, they are more statuesque than sexy, but both give larger-than-life performances that contain moments of completely thrilling vocalism. The casting is very strong, with the exception of Justino Diaz's Nelusko, which has strong presence but not much vocal allure. As Inez, Vasco da Gama's fiancee and rival for Shirley Verrett, Ruth Ann Swneson sings with great beauty and has impressive stage presence, very much holding her own in the confrontation with Verrett in the last act. Domingo is refulgent of tone and dramatically convincing, and he and Verrett strike sparks. She really comes into her own in one of the most preposterous mad-scenes in all opera, where she is slowly poisoned by the scent of a giant tree, contriving to make this dramatically truthful and even moving.

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Cast & Crew

12 members
Acting

Plácido Domingo

Vasco Da Gama

Plácido Domingo
Acting

Shirley Verrett

Sélika

Shirley Verrett
Acting

Ruth Ann Swenson

Inès

Ruth Ann Swenson
Acting

Justino Díaz

Nélusko

Justino Díaz
Acting

Patricia Spence

Anna

No Image
Acting

Kevin Anderson

Don Alvaro

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Acting

Michael Devlin

Don Pedro

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Acting

Philip Skinner

Don Diego

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Acting

Mark Delavan

High Priest of Brahma

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Acting

Joseph Rouleau

Grand Inquisitor of Lisbon

Joseph Rouleau
Acting

Sigmund Seigel

A priest

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Sound

Maurizio Arena

Conductor

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