Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music staged a performance of Giacomo Puccini’s “La Rondine” in Cahn Auditorium May 28-31.
Guest conductor Christopher Allen and the NU Chamber Orchestra accompanied the vocalists.
“La rondine” — Italian for ‘the swallow’ — follows Magda (second-year voice and opera masters student Katelyn Cox), as she leaves her rich lover Rambaldo (DMA candidate Walter Aldrich) to follow her love for the handsome Ruggero (first-year voice and opera performance masters student Leonardo Mangalindan). Like a swallow, Magda migrates to the countryside with Ruggero, but unfortunately her past catches up to her, and she has to return to her husband.
Across four performances, two different casts were highlighted. Friday’s cast featured Cox, Mangalindan and Aldrich alongside second-year voice and opera master’s student Jared Cohen as the poet Prunier and second-year voice and opera master’s student Lurdes Zapata as Prunier’s lover Lisette.
The interpretation was meant to show what happens when deepest dreams become reality, according to the program notes. In Magda’s case, her dream is passionate love, and it comes to life with Ruggero.
The opera’s setting uses a red-tinted box in the middle of the stage, which seemed to symbolize Magda’s confinement to her relationship. This staging decision showed the audience the confined reality Magda lives in compared to the passions she desires.
While the first act had a more intimate setting, the set opened up to the bustling streets of Paris in the second act. The end of that act included a strong moment for Cox and Mangalindan, played off of each other’s passion as their characters fell madly in love. A passionate kiss sealed the deal, drawing raptous applause from the audience.
The third act was set in the pastoral French Riviera, where the singers shone the most, bringing expressive nuance to each note.
Cox brought out Magda’s inner conflict beautifully, desperately trying to stay with Ruggerio despite knowing she can’t keep running from the truth. Cohen and Zapata fed off each other’s energy and provided playful yet impassioned dialogue that added a comedic layer to the show. Mangalindan embodied Ruggerio’s despair with his whole being, as his character realized he couldn’t stay with Magda.
Mangalindan’s Ruggerio was a standout performance. His expressive tenor had a rich timbre, projecting beautifully throughout the auditorium.
Allen created an exciting soundscape for singers to express themselves, while musicians gave their all with passionate melodies and steady accompaniment.
At the heart of “La rondine” is the notion that dreams can have negative consequences for others. Through a blend of passion, comedy and naivety, the performers of “La rondine” spoke to this ethos and gave audiences a show to remember.
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