Log in
/
Sign Up
Movies
Home »Movies »

Movie Description

L'Africaine

L'Africaine

(1988)

Overview

This was a 1988 revival of a 1971 production that teamed Domingo (Vasco da Gama) and Verrett (Selika - both then very much in their prime) in Meyerbeer's discursive swan-song. Seventeen years on, they are more statuesque than sexy, but both give larger-than-life performances that contain moments of completely thrilling vocalism. The casting is very strong, with the exception of Justino Diaz's Nelusko, which has strong presence but not much vocal allure. As Inez, Vasco da Gama's fiancee and rival for Shirley Verrett, Ruth Ann Swneson sings with great beauty and has impressive stage presence, very much holding her own in the confrontation with Verrett in the last act. Domingo is refulgent of tone and dramatically convincing, and he and Verrett strike sparks. She really comes into her own in one of the most preposterous mad-scenes in all opera, where she is slowly poisoned by the scent of a giant tree, contriving to make this dramatically truthful and even moving.

Featured Crew

  1. Director : Brian Large,Lotfi Mansouri
  2. Writer : Eugène Scribe
  3. Cast : Plácido Domingo,Shirley Verrett,Ruth Ann Swenson,Justino Díaz,Patricia Spence,Kevin Anderson,Michael Devlin,Philip Skinner,Mark Delavan,Joseph Rouleau,Sigmund Seigel,Maurizio Arena

Cast

Posters

Recommendations

Facts

Original TitleL'Africaine

Status Released

Release Information

  • 1988-01-01

Original LanguageUnknown

Runtime 03h 09m

Production CompaniesSan Francisco Opera

Genres

  • Music

©2026 Watsup.  All Right Reserved