"The celebrated Canadian tenor headlined Edmonton Opera's season opener of Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci, a classic double bill with musical riffs familiar to even the most uneducated opera ear. Opera fans here have been patient. Margison last appeared with this company 22 years ago in 1989 (though he did perform at the Winspear's grand opening in 1997). Edmonton won't want to wait so long again, especially now they've witnessed his brilliance as the legendary sad clown in Pagliacci, Leoncavallo's genius play-withinan-opera. Margison owned the role, killed it - quickly, without thought, a crime of
passion. Like Canio's betrayers, the audience didn't have a chance...Luckily, we got Margison in both operas; he's so good as a cold-hearted Turiddu, the jerk who dumps his pregnant girlfriend for an old flame. I felt some pangs of sympathy during 'Mamma, quel vino e generoso,' the famed aria where Turiddu asks mother for one last kiss, but that was the blinding light from Margison's lungs. Frankly, Turiddu deserves it." [Source]
(Photos: John Lucas/Edmonton Journal)
