Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi Anchorage Opera, dress rehearsal, 21 Sept 89, Discovery Theater I'm glad we decided to make the dress rehearsal of Anchorage Opera's Rigoletto; we were out of town for the regular run. This was certainly among the best performances I have ever heard in Anchorage, and one of the most enjoyable evenings of opera I have spent anywhere. The performance was evenly first-rate throughout-well sung (with some much better than adequate), well acted, nicely costumed and staged. Evelyn de la Rosa, whom I had much appreciated as Queen of the Night in Magic Flute here a few years ago, was back as Gilda and she played the part with great skill. Likewise Roy Stevens in the title role was first-rate, singing powerfully and filling the tortured jesters role convincingly. He dominates the stage without overwhelming other singers. James Ramlet (Sparafucile) was just right for his part-a big dark man with a deep dark bass, he was a splendid assassin. Suzanna Guzman played his sister perfectly, as well-sexy, teasing, lyrical. I found Gregory Kunde's Duke a little soft and squishy; he was unpersuasive as a calculating lothario. Michael More, a local singer, was steady as Borsa and I have never heard the Anchorage chorus better. The orchestra was barely adequate-thin and unsteady at times. Conductor David Alger in fact interrupted the climactic scene twice to dress them down. (I was astonished at how much I resented the interruption; despite knowing this was a rehearsal, I was fully caught up in the story by then and didn't want it interfered with.) Others: Stage director: Grethe Barrett Holby; Scenics: Carey Wong; Lighting: Lauren Miller.