La Finta Giardiniera

Waikato Times Review
What: La Finta Giardiniera
When: Monday, February 23
Where: English Flower Garden, Hamilton Gardens
Reviewed by: Monica Holt
The genius of Mozart played out in this debut performance by Opera Unleashed, the brainchild of former Waikato University graduate Evelyne Waters.
La Finta Giardiniera's (The Pretend Gardener Girl) storyline moved about as fast as the white doves that swooped in on this surprisingly chilly Hamilton night.
It is a Shakespeare-like tangle of love, hate, passion, madness, and complex relationships, composed in 1775 by Mozart who was then 18. The opera was performed in English, with very able piano playing by musical director Rosemary Barnes.
There were so many twists and turns that at times it was hard to keep up. Someone was always chasing someone else, either in love or hate or pure madness.
The buxom Sandrina (aka Countess Violante), pretending to be the gardener, played the main character swanking around the lawn threatening more than once to spill out of her Victorian corset.
The strongest and most poignant showing was by Evelyne Waters who played the sarcastic and quick-witted Serpetta. Her feisty character won the hearts of the audience.
The chorus of cicadas failed to drown out the powerful singing, but the gardens' resident rats gave their own cameo appearance, regularly scuttling along the brick wall border, eliciting the odd shriek. It was a polished and entertaining show, bringing opera one step closer for the untrained audience. Best to take a cardigan.

Proudly supported by The University of Waikato, PGG Wrightson, UBP Ltd and The Bourton Group.

Presented by Opera Unleashed. Check out their blog at http://operaunleashed.blog.com