The New York Times  -  Saturday, July 5, 2003
Opera Review
Parisian Grit in the Central Park Dust
By JEREMY EICHLER

Baz Luhrmann's high-gloss version of "La Boheme" closed last Sunday, but the tuneful travails of Mimi, Rodolfo and friends returned on Wednesday night in a production by Vincent La Selva's New York Grand Opera company.

With its flimsy sets, modest costumes and patchy sound system, you might call it the anti-Baz "Boheme." But it was a welcome contrast. This one was free, took place in the open air on a beautiful night and still came off with real verve and a certain ramshackle dignity.

Mr. La Selva is a tireless champion of populist opera, and his company is in its 30th season of outdoor performances. At this point, the group has outgrown its SummerStage home and moved to the East Meadow of Central Park. The advantage is that the Meadow can hold many more people. (The company estimated that 8000 were present on Wednesday, a hefty 2500 more than could have attended last year.) The downside is the large sandy patch in the center of the meadow. As the wind picked up, clouds of dust flew ominously toward the stage.
Common to both locations unfortunately, is a less than ideal sound system. The body mikes on the singers faded in and out during the first act, and while most of the kinks were fixed, some intermittent static remained….

Plenty of onstage dynamism also compensated. Maria Knapik sang a rich and respectable Mimi, and Pablo Veguilla was an appealingly ardent Rodolfo, phrasing in a warm Italianate style. Constantinos Yiannoudes, making his company debut, was a strong Marcello, and Susan Groeschel Lovelette was a bright if slightly chirpy Musetta.

Roberto Stivanello directed some lively horseplay in the garrett, and the scene outside Caf� Momus seemed as bustling as the stage could afford. Mr. La Selva lead with nicely pliant tempos and on shake of confidence. He is such a veteran at this job that when the growing winds peeled off two panels of scenery in the middle of the third act, he checked to make sure his singers were okay, but didn't miss a beat.

"La Boheme" returns on July 30, this time in its seldom performed version by Leoncavallo. The season ends on Aug. 13 with "Madama Butterfly."