Noble and emotional Gluck's Alceste in Pilsen
Harmonie, Olga Janáčková, 20.1.2022
The Pilsen production of the first Gluck Opera in the history of the Josef Kajetán Tyl Theater was born under a lucky star. It brought together artists who have an inner relationship to early music. Visibly and audibly they stood for a unified vision of the production of this beautiful opera. … Director Tomáš Ondřej Pilař based on the quality of well-chosen soloists, who fully focus on the character they already embody, and in addition to the inner experience, they enrich it with very economical gestures that are coordinatedly accurate in their simplicity. The choreographer Martin Šinták, with whom the director also collaborates repeatedly, also acted very empathetically in this spirit.
The production was dominated by the representative of Alceste, mezzo-soprano Barbora de Nunes-Cambraia, whose voice has matured beautifully, connected her vocal registers, including highs, and sounded calm, relaxed and melodic. Her dignified and sensitive Alceste, who sacrificed her life for her beloved husband, will be remembered for a long time.
The full auditorium perceived the opera intently and applauded sensitively only twice during the performance, when the lead actress Alceste sang her most serious arias. Thanks for that. The final applause was intense and long. Beautiful experience.