The cast is first rate. Domingo shines in his new baritone range as Neruda. His baritone is highlighted by some of the lyricism of his tenor range and is really very moving. The young postman who desires to be a poet is a brilliant Charles Castronovo, his voice and performance a match for Domingo. Christina Gallardo-Domas as Matilde, Amanda Squitieri as the love interest Beatrice, and Nancy Fabiola Herrera as the meddling Aunt of Beatrice all are in splendid voice. Vladimir Chernov is the Communist head of the two-person post office and Jose Adan Perez is the right–wing politician who nearly destroys the village with his campaign tactics. Grant Gershon does a smash-up job of conducting this very lyrical score with a mixture of passion and restraint.
Il Postino plays at the LA Opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion until Oct. 16th. There were special screened showings of a recorded performance of La Opera’s Il Postino in Orange County and in Downtown LA on Oct 8th.
Photo credit: Robert Millard / L.A. Opera
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