The Boston Phoenix review: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead comes to life in Boston

Faneuil Hall On April 10-11 2010, American Opera Projects and the Boston Classical Orchestra presented a concert staging of Herschel Garfein's new comic opera Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall.  Based on Tom Stoppard’s existential play of the same title, Garfein wrote both the score and the libretto for this lively adaption.

Seven semi-staged scenes were performed; some featured the lead soloists, and others included a chorus of students from the New England Conservatory. The title roles were performed by Krista River (mezzo-soprano), Chad Sloan (baritone), David Kravitz (baritone) and Jeffrey Tucker (bass). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, played by David Kravitz and Chad Sloan respectively, were the obvious audience favorites. The Boston Globe described the two baritones’ performances favorably, saying, “David Kravitz and Chad Sloan sang with skill, power, and exemplary diction, and acted their parts as well as they could from their music stands.”  Krista River was also lauded for her “beautifully sung” rendition of “The Unicorn Song.”

The opera scenes were paired with Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 to cap BCO’s 30th season.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is currently in development at AOP.

American Opera Projects, AOP on the Road, Press reviews and arti..., Rosencrantz & Guil...The American Opera ProjectBoston Classical Orchestra, Boston Conservatory of Music, Chad Sloan, David Kravitz, Faneuil Hall, Herschel Garfein, Jeffrey Tucker, Krista River, The Boston Globe, Tom StoppardComment