Meyerbeer LAfricaine (1988)

This was a 1988 revival of a 1971 production that teamed Domingo Vasco da Gama and Verrett Selika both then very much in their prime in Meyerbeers discursive swansong Seventeen years on they are more statuesque than sexy but both give largerthanlife performances that contain moments of completely thrilling vocalism The casting is very strong with the exception of Justino Diazs Nelusko which has strong presence but not much vocal allure As Inez Vasco da Gamas fiancee and rival for Shirley Verrett Ruth Ann Swneson sings with great beauty and has impressive stage presence very much holding her own in the confrontation with Verrett in the last act Domingo is refulgent of tone and dramatically convincing and he and Verrett strike sparks She really comes into her own in one of the most preposterous madscenes in all opera where she is slowly poisoned by the scent of a giant tree contriving to make this dramatically truthful and even moving