Review: Mark Adamo: “Little Women”

1st October 2005

Dawn Riesing as Beth, Ashleigh Rabbitt as Amy, Keri Alkema as Meg, Katherine Pracht as Jo and James Schaffner as Laurie.

...I can't think of another opera that begins to portray family life so vividly and in such deep dimension…Adamo wraps it all up in a compelling rhythmic and harmonic flow that gives an uncommonly complex scene a big contour you can hold in your mind…Bits of counterpoint crop up and harmonies converge at cadences, but mostly the voices sing in lively exchanges. This isn't just recitative or droning arioso. Adamo writes singing lines…so it expands on character and resonates emotionally…Adamo's wordplay can be brilliant, and we want to get to know these people…We learn more about them every time they sing, and that's why the opera engages from start to finish. Even by sky-high Skylight standards, this is an extraordinary cast…Coached, naturally, by Adamo the stage director, their acting appears artless. You don't think about it during the show - you're just watching these people live their lives...Adamo tells it right. - Tom Strini, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Mark Adamo LITTLE WOMEN Opera in Two Acts Duration: 120’ English libretto by the composer after the novel by Louisa May Alcott 2S, S[=Mz], 3Mz, T, Bar, 2B-Bar; 1(pic,afl).1(ca).1(bcl).1(cbn)/11[opt].00/ perc/hp.pf(cel,syn)/str Mark Adamo, stage director Skylight Opera Theatre/Carsey 16 September 2005; Milwaukee, WI

Review: Mark Adamo: “Little Women”

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