Thomas Wikman Reviews
Music of Baroque Exults In Rare Opera
Chicago Tribune Wednesday, April 17, 1996
by John von Rhein, Tribune Music Critic
It seems no less than proper
that the distinction of presenting
the Chicago professional premier of Claudio
Monteverdi's "n Ritorno d'Ulisse
in Patria" ("The Return of
Ulysses to His Homeland") this
week should fall to Music of the
Baroque, which has long held a
virtual monopoly on local performances
of the Italian Baroque
master's major works.
These concert performances
mark the end of another odyssey;
music director Thomas Wikman's
completion of the trilogy of
known Monteverdi operas, a
project he began with MOB three
years ago. Once again he has
made intelligent choices in his
musical realization, casting the
opera from strength and conducting
with dedication. Purists
could question certain of his
decisions on stylistic grounds, but
how many of them have ever
heard Monteverdi's glorious
music so well sung?
The plot spins off Queen
Penelope's virtue and constancy
as she patiently awaits her husband's
return from the Trojan
Wars. Monteverdi's recitative
style moves freely between declamation
and arioso, keeping lyrical
expansion in check until the end.
But there is much subtlety of
instrumental color, not least in
the courtly brass interludes.
