It is a pity that Wexford Festival Opera's La fanciulla del West, one of this year's three Opera Scenes, is spoiled by miscasting. Three characters dominate this trimmed-down version of Puccini's tale of love and loyalty in the wild west, and two of them have the wrong type of voice for the role.
Irina Lasareva as Minnie was unreliable in pitching, especially in high notes, where her striving was entirely inappropriate for this lyrical music. Jeong Won Lee was much more reliable. But he too strove, and an edgy tenor sound does not suit Dick Johnson. It was a different matter with baritone Michael Dewis as Jack Rance. Here was rounded tone and natural line, qualities which were also heard in many of the minor roles.
Musical director John Shea did a fine job, conveying Puccini's elaborate textures on the piano and conducting the many ensembles with his head, as well as his arm. Patrick Mailler's stage direction is well-judged in the quantity and pacing of action, and it revels in the story's occasional "This town ain't big enough for the both of us" cliches.
