Let me first give a brief synopsis of this opera. It is a comedy done in one act. A rich man has died and his relatives are very upset because he has left all his money to a monastery. Rinuccio was hoping for some inheritance because he needs it to be able to marry his beloved Lauretta. He comes up with the idea to ask Lauretta’s father, Gianni Schicchi, for help. Schicchi decides to impersonate the dead man and dictates a new will before the officials realize he’s an imposter. But instead of willing his money to the relatives, he leaves the most valuable property to himself. Needless to say, they are very upset and a series of very funny events occur.

I have been to Irish Tenor concerts and loved the sounds they produce and enjoyed the interaction between them. I have been able to attend Anthony’s solo performances and am always mesmerized by the beauty of his voice. But the opera was a new treat. Here, he not only sang, but he also acted. And he was great! If you’ve been to one of his concerts, you know how he is able to convey the meaning of his songs with his facial expressions. In “Gianni Schicchi,” he was at the top of his game. The audience could tell when he was sad, scheming, comedic, or hopelessly in love. And his singing was flawless. He hit every note whether he was moving across the stage, sitting on a chair, or balancing a child on his knee.

The audience on both nights responded very positively to Anthony’s performance. During his curtain calls, “Bravo” could be heard throughout the theatre. I hope that opera patrons in Dublin are realizing what we fans over here already know. As the two gentlemen who were sitting near me on Tuesday night remarked when Anthony took his bows, “That one has a very, very good voice!”

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