Calisto

Friday night, I attended Francesco Cavalli's La Calisto being presented by the students of the Glenn Gould vocal program. Without great music, the opera revealed the flaws of the genre: ridiculous story-lines, wooden acting, and my pet peeve: ubiquitious vibrato and coloratura. On the other hand, the students possessed fine voices; the Baroque opera had interesting instruments including harpsichord, archlute, and theorbo; and Koerner Hall is a wonderful venue for acoustic music.

The main story was concerned with Giove's (Jupiter) attempt to seduce the chaste Calisto by disguising himself as her patron goddess: Diana. Meanwhile, the real Diana was pining over sheperd Endimione and shocked at her "impure" thoughts. Having no such compunction, randy satyr Satyrino chased after Lanfear, one of Diana's hand-maiden.

The show ended happily. After showing his steadfastness despite being tormented by the jealous goat-god Pan, Endiomione won Diana's heart (though only chaste kisses.) Lanfear turned the table on Satirino and pursued him instead, when she decided that she'd rather have a husband and "be enjoyed" rather than stay virginal. Giunone (Giove's wife) had turned Calisto into a bear in a fit of jealousy and set the Furies to hound her. But Giove drove them away, assigned Mercurio (Mercury) to watch over her for the rest of her ursine days, and promised to elevate Calisto into the heavens at the end.

The performance fared best in the comic moments and ribald humour. Justin Stolz (Natura/Pan) and Beth Hagerman (Giunone) had rich strong voices. Ruth D'Souza (Satirino) played the lustful satyr with relish. Of the main cast, Danielle MacMillan was good as Diana/Giove in Diana. Lucy Fitz Gibbon sang well but didn't make much of an impression as a rather formless Calisto.