The notion that a small company, performing in a theater that seats half the truncated orchestra under the stage and pipes the sound into the venue, can successfully mount grand opera after grand opera seems absurd. West Bay Opera’s general director, José Luis Moscovich, persists nonetheless, and does so with a fine ear for casting thrilling voices. The company premiere of Aida features a number of strong singers, most notably Karen Slack in the title role and Adam Paul Lau as Ramfis. With Moscovich at the podium, José Maria Condemi directing, and the Kunst-Stoff Dance Company writhing about, this one has my vote.
Jason Victor Serinus regularly reviews music and audio for Stereophile, SFCV, Classical Voice North America, AudioStream, American Record Guide, and other publications. The whistling voice of Woodstock in She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown, the longtime Oakland resident now resides in Port Townsend, Washington.