Palm Beach Daily News, p. A5, Sunday, December 11, 1988
By Juliette de Marcellus, Daily News Music Critic

Palm Beach Opera courageously opened their season with Carmen Friday night; this is a big operatic challenge for this company, which works with a restricted stage, limited rehearsal time and a part time chorus.

As has been the case during the last three years, however, the star of the show was the orchestra, and at its helm, maestro Anton Guadagno who gave this music the magical pacing that makes one forget what a very long opera this is.  His instrument was the Philharmonic Orchestra of Florida (POOF) and he made it sound clear, piquant and ominous.

The other bright aspect of the production was the presence of outstanding supporting roles taken by excellent young singers on the rise -- two of them, Dean Peterson and Drexel Hallaway, singers who can be considered to some extent 'Palm Beachers' and others who have won PBO operatic auditions.

On the downside of the opera were the lead singers, none of whom were exceptional in their roles, to put it kindly. 

The poor acoustics of the auditorium could take credit for some of the lack of music in these voices if it was not for the fact that the support singers were heard to greater advantage.  Drexel Hallaway, for instance, was heard loud and clear, in fine voice and immaculate diction, as well as in convincing portrayals of his two roles, Morales in the first act, and Dancairo, a smuggler in the second and third.

 . . . In fact, the best moment of the opera came with Sir John and Hallaway's plotting scene -- for a moment what was going on on the stage was as good as what was going on in the pit, but this moment served to show what the principals were lacking. 
 


Jewish World, p. 63, December 16–22, 1988
By Seymour Schonberg

Palm Beach Opera opened its 26th season on Friday, December 9, at the West Palm Beach Auditorium with a respectable production of Bizet's "Carmen."  Although not lavish, it looked good -- handsome, uncluttered sets, tasteful costumes, unobtrusive lighting, and honest stage direction by James Lucas, all to the good.

The orchestra played superbly under Maestro Anton Guadagno, whose tempi, though decidedly brisk, were never rushed.  The Act Two quintet, for example, was a marvel of delicacy -- a vocal scherzo, which, for all it fleetness, always retained crystal clarity.  Which brings us to the voices.

 . . . Drexel Hallaway, double cast as Morales and Dancairo, is a first rate musician.  He possesses the true French baryton martin voice, beautifully placed.  What he may lack at the moment in theatrical flair is more than compensated for in a rare combination of musical intelligence, vocal beauty and good looks.  Should he ever make a serious commitment to music, his will be an impressive contribution to the vocal scene.

And so it's bravo, chorus; bravo, Guadagno; bravo, Palm Beach Opera.  On with the season.