Chamber Opera offers riveting performances

Piccolo Spoleto has always offered terrific music in its Spotlight Concerts.

The historic First Baptist Church on lower Church Street has bright acoustics and compact size, perfect for Thursday's Charleston Chamber Opera's concert.

Co-founders Lara Wilson, mezzo soprano, and Patrice Tiedemann, soprano, recently created the opera with actress Terry Bell-Aby and pianist Steven Morris.

Their aim is to present intimate works and premieres of American opera, stressing "dramatic presentation, production values and true stagecraft."

"Mothers, Sisters and Adversaries" was the title of the selections.

Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte" opened. Once the Fiordiligi (Tiedemann) and Dorabella (Wilson) began to sing, there was no doubt here were two formidable actresses with ravishing operatic voices.

Linking the selections was a running commentary by Bell-Aby, astutely delivered. Morris' accompaniment was able and adaptable to stylistic changes.

Samuel Barber's failed third opera "Antony and Cleopatra" was commissioned for the opening of the new Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center in 1966. The critics trashed it. It has all but disappeared. And despite five careful editors, the program stated Barber died in 1949, not the true date of 1981.

Sir Peter Brook's adaptation of Bizet's most famous opera as "La Tragedie de Carmen," with musical assistance by French composer Marius Constant (noted for "The Twilight Zone" theme), did not sound like too much deconstruction had occurred. Wilson as Carmen and Tiedemann as Micaela were in top form and emotionally moving.

Wilson sang the Grandmother's Lullaby from Menotti's "The Consul" with genuine pathos.

With some costuming Wilson assumed the role of the Principessa and Tiedemann the lead in Puccini's one act tear-jerker "Suor Angelica." Their performances were riveting

Wilson created Baba the Turk, with false beard, from Stravinsky's "The Rake's Progress."

Tiedemann as Cio Cio San and Wilson as Susuki thrillingly sung and acted in two excerpts from "Madama Butterfly."

"We are Women" from Bernstein's "Candide" closed. There was a standing ovation from the small, but appreciative audience.