L'Africaine

L'Africaine may not be the masterpiece that Meyerbeer (who worked on it for 20 years) envisioned, but it's wonderfully entertaining as mounted by the San Francisco Opera in this 1988 production that boasts remarkably strong casting, right down to the minor roles. The Eugene Scribe libretto has Vasco de Gama (Placido Domingo) torn between two loves: the noble Ines (brilliantly performed by Ruth Ann Swenson) and the “African” (she's really from Sri Lanka) slave Selika (movingly sung and acted by Shirley Verrett). It's definitely worth watching, even though it's opera at its most outlandish, with ludicrous ballet sequences, murder plots, storms at sea and even suicide via the scent of a “macanilla” tree. The score is colorful if not extraordinary, most enjoyable for its beautiful duets and ensemble singing, as well as Domingo's golden-throated rendition of the Caruso signature piece “O Paradis.” With exotic sets, rich costuming (hoop skirts and hip boots in the 16th century!) and photography and sound as good as '80s technology probably allowed, this Dolby Digital 5.1 enhanced effort, presented in French with English subtitles, is recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Reed)