The Winspear Opera House was hosting a Russian opera by the name of ‘Iolanta’ this rarely-performed Tchaikovsky gem, is set in medieval Provence. It tells the story of a kind-hearted young princess sheltered from the truth about herself. As the opera begins to unfold Love and duty, deception and faith collide in this gentle fairytale romance. It is performed by a superb Russian/American ensemble. Iolanta is gorgeous and lushly romantic conducted by Dallas Opera Music Director Emmanuel Villaume.
During the Opera I heard an abundant amount of fine string instruments for example I believe I heard Handcrafted Violins, Violas, and Cellos. I also heard a variety of voices all throughout the opera. I heard sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses. All the voices together with absolutely no talking told the story through a unique way.
The clashing of the parts during the songs with the instruments allowed the audience to want to know more the decrescendo along with the crescendos were placed in at the right time during the very tensional parts. Fermatas were held for an abundant amount of time and basses and sopranos had a multitude of times during the opera were their part began to clash and go through notes that were not expected. It was an interesting sound throughout. Sopranos hit very high pitches and balanced well with the altos voices. Tenors had a different sound to allow them to stand out and be like the sprinkles of the cupcake everyone wants them but not too much but just enough to know they are there.
Iolanta was written strictly for enjoyment. It is a fantasy of a princess fairytale but the context was primarily to get people to become culturally rounded through things they never do and explore the arts of different things. An opera allows you to genuinely think of it as a movie through songs and it captures the audience through the perception of the cultural impact and the affect it has on our younger and also older generations.
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