Virginia Opera Tag
Home>Posts tagged "Virginia Opera"
Posted by Julie in News, Review, Virginia Opera
“But Street Scene rests on the performance of four big voices. Number one is Mrs. Maurrant. Virginia Opera is blessed by the return of Jill Gardner to essay this very difficult role. She won the day last season as Minnie in The Girl of the Golden West. This time she has a more difficult challenge: to make an adulterous wife sympathetic. And she does. “Somehow I Never Could Believe” is a bear of an aria, but Ms. Gardner creates such a strong bond with her audience that it allows her to lead them along to wherever she chooses. She alone is a reason to see this production.” Read the complete review…
Posted by Julie in News, Review, Virginia Opera
“Jill Gardner as Minnie gets what is surely one of the greatest entrances for any soprano, firing a shot to settle down the quarreling miners in her saloon. The next thing we know, she’s reading to them from the Bible—a lesson about forgiveness that will prove prophetic. Just in her first scene alone, we’re given examples of Minnie’s strength, intelligence, self-sufficiency, shyness, and compassion. Gardner invested this endearing character with great fierceness and great tenderness by turns, and sang with clarity and sweetness of tone.” Read Gina Dalfonzo’s review in it’s entirety on the DC Metro Theater Arts website… Photo Credit: Ben Schill Photography (http://www.schillphotography.com) SaveSave
Posted by Julie in News, Review, Team Gardner, Virginia Opera
Virginia Opera’s production of La Fanciulla del West Review by Tim Smith “THE EMOTIONS FUELING THE PLOT of La Fanciulla del West—unfulfilled sensual needs, homesickness, sense of duty and community, those old favorites of faith, hope and jealousy—were all given serious, sincere attention in a Virginia Opera production that reaffirmed, as admirers of Puccini’s brilliant work have long maintained, it deserves much more prominence in the canon. Aided at every moment by Adam Greene’s refined lighting, there was no shortage of good old-fashioned atmosphere from the scenery (John Conklin) and costumes (Constance Hoffman), originally designed for the Glimmerglass Festival. The director of that earlier production, Lillian Groag, brought her incisive touch to this staging as…
Posted by Julie in News, Review, Virginia Opera
“Soprano Jill Gardner was a brilliant Minnie. Her voice is a powerful instrument that, combined with her natural ability to act brought the pistol-packing, Bible reading, never-been-kissed character with a heart as good as gold to vivid life. Her’s is one of the strongest, most solid soprano sounds to grace the VOA roster. One can only imagine the dramatic heights of her acclaimed Tosca.” Read John Sheldon’s full review in The Virginia Gazette…
Posted by Julie in News, Teaching, Virginia Opera
Master Teacher Series Event! Free and open to the public! Tuesday – October 10, 2017 – 7 PM at the Dominion Arts Center, 600 E. Grace St, Richmond, VA 23219. Experience the preparation process for Virginia Opera’s Herndon Foundation Emerging Artists as they advance their professional dream with our Master Teacher series. Jill Bowen Gardner & Jake Gardner who will be starring in our production of Puccini’s ‘The Girl of the Golden West’ will provide instruction and advice to the young singers. Enjoy light refreshments with the artists following the presentation. To reserve a space, call 866.673.7282 https://vaopera.org/events/master-teacher-series/
