In Review: Babcock, Fout, Barron, and Nelson give "stunning" performances in New Orleans O
"Mezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock gives Donna Elvira more of a spine than many directors often allow. As such she serves as an ultimate foil to Giovanni, not the mere doormat that he has used and tossed aside. Elvira still provides many of the humorous moments in the opera. Dressed as an adventurous aviatrix straight out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, however, Dalton and Babcock establish Elvira as a woman to be reckoned with. From her opening aria, "Ah, chi me dice mai," Babcock displayed a richly luscious voice that is smoothly fluid across an impressive range. Bass-baritone Joseph Barron gives Leporello a broadly physical performance that is so well acted comically that we nearly overlook his potently sonorous voice. His handling of the famous "Catalogue Aria," in which he lists his employer's many sexual conquests (2,065, if I added it all up correctly), was one of the productions many high points. Soprano Angela Fout brought a voluptuous voice and performance as Donna Anna. Melodious and lucidly clear, her ornamentations were notable. She was well paired with tenor Tyler Nelson, who gave Don Ottavio a sweet voice, also colored with pleasing embellishments. His "Dalla sua pace" was golden." -New Orleans Times-Picayune