La fanciulla del West (The Girl of the Golden West)

Opera Queensland’s production of Puccini’s The Girl of the Golden West was so swamped by the overwhelming concept imposed by the director that it had trouble breathing let alone singing. Nigel Jamison’s original metaphor for the piece set in America’s wild-west gold-rush days, was as a black and white silent movie which was realized by showing flickering images on the set, a huge rectangular wooden megaphone. That the set was totally inappropriate for the intimate love triangle of the plot, especially the second act, was just one of the many things askew in this production that had originally been mounted in 2009 by State Opera of South Australia. If you’re not familiar with the work, and most opera buffs aren’t because it’s had scant productions in Australia being one of Puccini’s least successful operas, don’t worry, musically you will be on familiar ground. There are quotes from Madam Butterfly, Turandot, and La Boheme, plus ‘prairie’ themes that were to later influence Ferde Grofe, Victor Young, and countless Hollywood composers. The most well-known piece of music in the opera was expanded by Andrew Lloyd Webber and today is known as “The Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera. Zara Barrett as Minnie towered in height above her co-stars, and totally lacked sweetness and vulnerability. This was a ‘girl’ who came across as having Amazonian strength and one who could handle herself in any situation. The voice was harsh and without warmth. Douglas McNicol was a fine Jack Rance, but it was Carlos Barricelli who shone as badass Dick Johnson. His singing of the show’s most famous aria, “Ch’ella mi creda,” was beautiful. The chorus, all dressed identically in R.M. Williams oilskin coats (where did these miners get the money to buy them?), handled their vocal chores well, and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Peter Robinson, were as usual, in top form. Pity about the pretentious concept.

Peter Pinne     

Image: Baritone José Carbó as Sonora