Showing @ Usher Hall as part of EIF
Lacking a stand out aria capable of being hijacked by advertisers to sell perfume, cars or pork scratchings and without the tragic ending so beloved of opera aficionados La fanciulla del West has always been perceived as a lesser work in Puccini’s canon and essentially a bridge between the earlier and later themes in his operas.
This concert production at the Usher Hall, with only the music there to tell the story, did much to revive its reputation and show off the powerful, sweeping, emotive melodies and give great opportunities for the performers to shine.
Puccini’s characters are always boldly drawn and here is no exception. There’s Rance the town sheriff, a strong man brought down by jealousy and Johnson the bandit giving up the lure of gold for the love of a good woman but neither could exist without Minnie the tough but tender saloon gal around whom everything revolves.
Juha Uusitalo’s Rance was a powerful commanding presence, his deep basso voice shook the rafters of the Usher Hall and even without set or costume it was easy to believe that the townsfolk would be in thrall to his orders. Johnson the romantic bandit was given life and soul by Carl Tanner and he gave a convincing portrayal of a man torn between his wild ways and true love.
The only weakness in the concert was the performance of Susan Bullock as Minnie. Possessing a wonderful soprano voice and giving a passionate reading of the character in the end it was all done in too overwrought a fashion. The subtleties of the conflict between Minnie’s strong moral centre and her love for Johnson were lost in the dramatic sweep.
The remaining cast were excellent and of course the same goes without saying for the Edinburgh Festival Chorus who gave full throated life to the townsfolk.
La fanciulla del West will never challenge Madam Butterfly or Tosca for pre-eminence in the hearts of Puccini fans but based upon this performance it deserves to be better known and better appreciated by those who love his work.