FGO's superb Tales of Hoffman By Liz Potter and Tony Guzman Florida Grand Opera presents an exciting Tales of Hoffman, notable for its strong singing performances by gorgeous diva soprano Elizabeth Futral as Hoffman’s “perfect woman” in multiple roles as Olympia, Antonia and Guiletta, delightful Katherine Rohrer as Hoffman’s comedic Muse, melodic tenor David Pomeroy as Hoffman the bachelor hero, and Bradley Garvin as a particularly fine and terrifying Dr. Miracle. FGO’s Tales of Hoffman features four intriguing vignettes that describe different facets of Hoffman’s “perfect woman,” and includes fine acting and inventive costumes, particularly for Olympia and her doll chorus, a strong supporting cast of singers, and live orchestra conducted with zest by Lucy Arner. Liz and Tony highly recommend you see FGO’s Tales of Hoffman at Miami’s Arsht Center until February 5, or at the Broward Center February 10th and 12th. For tickets call FGO’s box office: 1-800 741-1010, or online: www.fgo.org Lise Lindstrom Shines in FGO’s Stirring Turandot Lindstrom’s forceful singing and her riveting presence in striking silver and white costumes by Allen Charles Klein capture the essence of Turandot compellingly, but what really makes her Turandot a triumph is the way she registers and renders the various emotional turning points and changes of heart her character goes through on her way to redemption through love. As Calàf, Turandot’s resolute lover, tenor Frank Porretta is suitably forceful, singing richly, with smooth power. His handling of the famous “Nessun dorma” (“None shall sleep”) aria was particularly fine. Veteran bass-baritone Kevin Langan is masterful as Calàf’s father, Timur, the blind exiled king of the Tartars, and soprano Elizabeth Caballero, a Add to the mix the spirited handling of Puccini’s glorious score by the recently appointed Music Director of the Palm Beach Symphony, Ramon Tebar, Klein’s stunning, wildly imaginative costumes and lighting, and John Keene’s rousing, intelligent stage direction, and you have a Turandot that’s not to be missed, especially for the performance by Lindstrom, who may be the Turandot of our time. By Tony Guzman Florida Grand Opera’s third production of the 2009-2010 season is a quirkily inventive staging of The Barber of Seville, Gioachino Rossini’s comedic and musical masterpiece based on Pierre Beaumarchais’s play of the same name, which chronicles the madcap escapades of a love-struck young nobleman extricating his feisty beloved from the suffocating clutches of her lecherous old guardian – all under the direction of Figaro, a wily factotum/barber whose specialty is ingenious schemes taking advantage of human foibles. The terrific international cast sings gorgeously throughout, while whipping up a zany comedic brew ranging from droll deadpan humor to inspired slapstick in a satisfyingly broad Commedia dell' arte style. An intriguing feature of this Barber is its incorporation of animation provided by British bass Roderick Williams is a decidedly dashing and debonair Figaro who keeps a pleasantly ironic distance from the mayhem he largely fashions. As the tempting, trapped ward Rosina, svelte and lovely Sarah Coburn proves herself an engaging comedienne as well as a formidable soprano, combining bravura singing with a beguiling sense of fun. Similarly, as the love-struck young Count Almaviva, Canadian tenor Frédéric Antoun sings with appealing lyricism while displaying considerable comedic flair portraying the Count disguised as an inept substitute music teacher and a raunchy, drunken soldier. Italian bass-baritone Bruno Praticò brings a delightfully deadpan humor to the role of Rosina’s repellent guardian, Dr. Bartolo, and bass Tom Corbeil invests the part of Rosina’s music master, Don Basilio, with loopy humor while exhibiting a flair for physical comedy. In a smaller part, but funniest of all, is mezzo-soprano Amanda Crider as Berta the maid. Crider plays Berta as a lavishly eccentric fuddy-duddy whose every take and piece of business is a priceless hoot. Conductor Gary Thor Wedow handles Rossini’s gloriously energetic and tuneful score with precision and panache, and this staging by Florida Grand Opera, as a whole, offers a fresh and genuinely original take on one of opera’s most beloved classics. Soprano Shu-Ying Li Shines as FGO Ends Season with a Superb Madame Butterfly Florida Grand Opera recently concluded its 2008–2009 season with a very satisfying production indeed of Puccini’s ever-popular Madame Butterfly at the to us. Li has performed the role numerous times around the globe, and she seems destined to be the preeminent Madame Butterfly of our time. Her inspired performance brought the Li was paired with Mexican tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz as the “ugly American” heartthrob, Lieutenant Pinkerton, for whom purchasing a “Japanese marriage” for 100 yen seems an agreeable lark while waiting for “a real wedding with a real American bride.” Chacón-Cruz is an affable, wry presence on stage. He sings with an attractive and seemingly effortless lyricism, but seems rather oddly cast as Pinkerton, never quite conveying what would keep Cio-Cio-San’s telescope breathlessly poised on As the honorable, straight-talking American consul, Sharpless, bass-baritone Jake Gardner cast an imposing figure, enhanced by his rich, powerful voice. He imbued his Sharpless with considerable gravitas – and a rather Continental refinement. As Butterfly’s devoted servant, mezzo-soprano, Catherine Goeldner, gave us a movingly empathetic, well-sung Suzuki. FGO Principal Conductor, Stewart Robertson, handled Puccini’s complex, evocative score masterfully, and, among many impressive production values, Gordon W. Olson’s elaborate, dramatic lighting design was particularly effective. Due to the recession, 2009-2010 will see Florida Grand Opera cutting back to four operas rather than presenting its traditional season of five. Gone will be the slot FGO traditionally reserved for the quirky avant-garde or rarely seen Baroque or lesser-known-work-by-a-master opera. Other than that, the season should be, well, grand. Let’s hope that South Florida comes through for an organization that has always come through for South Florida with great art. Xander Chauncy, Ven Daniel, Andrew Grosshandler, Jose Luaces, and Christoper Hudson Myers "bust" spectacular moves individually and dancing as a perfectly coordinated team. 
"Liz & Tony's Musical Picks," Page 4:
By Tony Guzman
Remaining performances:
Florida Grand Opera’s animated Barber of Seville a musical and comedic dazzler
Miami Arsht Center, Broward Center
Box Office 1-800-741-1010
Information & Tickets: www.fgo.org
Actor's Playhouse "Altar Boyz"
Christopher Hudson Meyers, Jose Luaces, Xander Chauncy, Andres Grosshandler, Ven Daniel, photo by Christopher Jahn
Actor's Playhouse at Miracle Mile
presents righteously
entertaining Off-Broadway Hit,
Altar Boyz
Actor's Playhouse Box Office: 305-444-9293
Information at: www.actorsplayhouse.org
280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Performances Wed-Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm
Jan 16th - Feb 10th
"Altar Boyz is the most high-powered entertainment of this season, it's funny, smart and features five incredibly talented young actors/singers/dancers - it's hot!" exclaims Actor's Playhouse Director David Arisco.
Altar Boyz, still running in New York, is a "musical and concert wrapped into one great show," in which "the Boyz are ready to steal hearts and sing to adoring fans of all denominations" (Kayla Harris). Harris adds, "Altar Boyz has fun but carries an overwhelming message of acceptance and the value of faith."
Liz & Tony enjoyed every minute of this delightful and humorous Off-Broadway show. Xander Chauncey has the great looks, voice and charisma to carry off his role as "star" of a Christian boy band that is a comic send up of the "Backstreet Boys."
These five young "Altar Boyz" lived up to advance billing as a "triple threat" with respect to acting, comedic singing and especially dancing. Liz & Tony highly recommend buying tickets to Altar Boyz, and invite your friends as well for a great evening at Actors' Playhouse on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables!
This theatre offers a 10 percent discount to seniors buying tickets the day of the performance, and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain, with ID and subject to availability.
