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Tear jerking La Fanciulla at the Royal Opera

What a change from La Calisto last night: Puccini's lush score and lyrical writing for La Fanciulla del West was made for the grand stage at the Royal Opera. José Cura once again assumed the role of Dick Johnson with much gusto and masculinity. Eva-Maria Westbroek's Minnie was not bad, though at times she lacked power in the middle register and was overwhelmed by the fat sound from the pit. Pappano as usual did a fine job pacing the action and milking those tear jerking moments (especially in Act III).



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