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Adria
Firestone is, as to be expected, magnificent as Dalila...her singing is
stunning. I
had missed Adria Firestone's much admired 1995 Carmen for Lyric
Opera of Queensland, and was particularly looking forward to her Dalila;
in the event, I was even more impressed than I had expected to be...Not
only does she have the ravishingly good looks and slim figure to suit
her for such roles to perfection, but she has a powerful, silky smooth
mezzo which she uses with great skill and musicality. Her
voice is rich and versatile - we floated out of this world on her limpid
rendering of the Act II aria, Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix. As
Dalila she is the most voluptous creature imaginable, black waterfalls
of hair, flashing eyes, and a plump, rich voice thrillingly languid but
with an edge of steel. When she sings that famous aria, Mon coeur s'ouvre
a ta voix, her voice curls around Samson like a golden snake. Adria
Firestone's Dalila dominates the production even more than did her Carmen
two years ago. A strong stage presence, considerable beauty and acting
ability combine with fine mezzo voice to bring life to a production that
until her initial entrance was struggling. Saved
by the belle...Adria Firestone is the best thing in Samson et Dalila,
just as she was the best thing in Carmen a couple of years ago...Vixen-eyed
and exotic-looking with long, wavy hair as black as original sin and a
body with more dangerous curves than the Great Ocean Road, her Dalila
flaunts everything she's got...Firestone steals the show.
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