Friday, May 21, 2004

The golden boy of Seattle Opera
Little-known Italian tenor is talk of the town

By R.M. CAMPBELL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER MUSIC CRITIC

The buzz running about Seattle Opera these days is about an Italian tenor, Antonello Palombi, making his American debut in the second cast of the company's production of Puccini's "La fanciulla del West."

Not only has he never sung in the United States, he has never appeared at La Scala in Milan, Italy's foremost opera company, or other major opera houses in Europe. He has sung in a number of smaller Italian houses, including La Fenice in Venice, as well as the prestigious Glyndebourne Festival south of London, Zurich Opera, Oper Frankfurt and Deutsche Oper in Berlin.

Given the scope of this exciting voice, why is he not better known? No one seems to have an answer. Speight Jenkins, general director of Seattle Opera, didn't know him until Palombi's manager sent him an unsolicited tape. Although Jenkins rarely hires singers based on a tape, he was so impressed by what he heard he engaged him for Dick Johnson in Puccini's tale of the old West.

I caught up with his singing Tuesday night at McCaw Hall, as did Pamela Rosenberg, general director of San Francisco Opera, who flew to Seattle to hear him.

Palombi has the kind of tenor many opera impresarios say they cannot find. It is rich and full, remarkably resonant yet limpid, a voice that easily rises to its top and then blossoms. Palombi's tenor is lyrical but with handsome, dark coloring. There is a lot of power, but Palombi can sing more than just loud: sweet pianissimos and soft, perfectly molded phrases. He colors his line, shades his voice expertly. Palombi made Dick Johnson a compelling dramatic figure, not so much by his acting, although he threw himself into the role on Tuesday, but vocally.

Other principals in the excellent cast were an immensely appealing Minnie sung by Eva Batori and a carefully delineated Jack Rance by Kim Josephson. Hungarian soprano Batori brings out the human dimension in this likable character and her essential femininity. She also can sing. Josephson made a sizable impact as the sheriff.

Palombi, Batori and Josephson have two more performances: tonight and Sunday afternoon.