Bellini: I Puritani - Recorded live at the Netherlands Opera, October 2009
Daniel Borowski (Lord Gualtiero Valton), Mariola Cantarero (Elvira), Riccardo Zanellato (Sir Giorgio), John Osborn (Lord Arturo Talbot), Scott Hendricks (Sir Riccardo Forth), Gregorio Gonzalez (Sir Bruno Roberton), Fredrika Brillembourg (Enrichetta di Francia)
Chorus of the Netherlands Opera & Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Giuliano Carella (conductor) & Francisco Negrin (director)
There are two things that I enjoyed a lot about this production. The first is a real effort to rise above the soppy love story and engage with the setting of the plot. These are real Puritans, repressed, disapproving, waving their Bibles, and Elvira is caught in a desperate situation, abandoned, judged by her relatives and harassed and harried by her rejected lover. When Arturo returns he is actually shot and dies by the vengeful puritans, and the happy ending is in her imagination. Makes sense to me.
The other thing I enjoyed a lot was the singing by the wonderful John Osborn, who is something if a Rossini specialist (also excellent in Otello). He has a lovely virile timbre but can also hit some mean high notes.
Supporting roles were adequate although Scott Hendricks might make more of an impression if he chewed the scenery a bit less and let the words speak for him.
Unfortunately the whole thing was spoiled for me by the fact that I simply cannot stand the timbre soprano’s voice - it is actively painful to my ears; although she can sing the part perfectly well. What a pity.
Natalie
Much too gay.Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla
Campra's Les Fêtes Vénitiennes from the Opéra Comique, conducted by William Christie in a rollicking production by Robert Carsen, with a star line up of young baroque specialists and dancers. Worth getting a VPN to circumvent the France-only restriction. If it comes out on DVD I'm getting it.
I assure you it is steamingly and rather blindingly hetero, hehe.Much too gay.
Natalie
Assets?
"J'ai dit qu'il ne suffisait pas d'entendre la musique, mais qu'il fallait encore la voir" (Stravinsky)
Oh Lord!! Here we go again!!Assets?
Well, you might have to peer carefully into the writhing heaps on stage. I'm sure you'll manage.Assets?
Natalie
Thank you Clayton! Got it new from market seller for £8.
Have only watched the prologue so far (will reward myself with Act I when I've done a few chores) but I LOVE it!! Wish I'd seen this live in Amsterdam.
"Every theatre is an insane asylum, but an opera theatre is the ward for the incurables."
FRANZ SCHALK, attributed, Losing the Plot in Opera: Myths and Secrets of the World's Great Operas
What a great purchase! A great opera to enjoy for only £8
and what a quick purchase. Sensible though, we can't waste time when it comes to opera
I watched the new Otello with Fleming and Botha.
At the first time I watched in in the cinema ( 2012) we had a bad transmission....
Well, it was not all bad transmission, Bota is so disappointing.
I know that appearance not count but dear lord , he has everything against him, including a wobbly voice.
Renée Fleming saves it for me.
After almost 20 years she still doing a wonderful Desdemona.
Annie!! You going Reggie on us?!
Have only watched the prologue so far (will reward myself with Act I when I've done a few chores) but I LOVE it!! Wish I'd seen this live in Amsterdam.
And that is why I didn't go and see it. For me Otello is all about the men, and I just couldn't see Botha in the part. I've seen Fleming in another production, when she was younger and more vocally secure.
Natalie
Never!!!Annie!! You going Reggie on us?!
My chores took longer than I'd hoped so I haven't watched any more. I hope they haven't messed with the story/libretto but it is 10 years old and the 'regie' wasn't quite as ridiculous then as it sometimes is now.
Not bothered about the costumes as not sure what the gods wore in 8th century BC!
"Every theatre is an insane asylum, but an opera theatre is the ward for the incurables."
FRANZ SCHALK, attributed, Losing the Plot in Opera: Myths and Secrets of the World's Great Operas
Ulisse is one of those universal mythical stories where there doesn't seem to be a bad production (so far touch wood)
Natalie
?Annie!! You going Reggie on us?!
I do not think there is any part of this production that can be called reggie.
Unless the eagle's name is Reggie
It is directed by Pierre Audi who has done a few bonkers incorporated productions but this is definitely not one of those. This is very much classical/elegant production with emphasis on minimalism to accentuate the characters.
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