To say the least, it was an exciting night: a gala with stars, enormous sets, and a major comeback for a neglected bel canto queen. Callas was joined by Giulietta Simionato (Giovanna Seymour), Gianni Raimondi (Riccardo Percy), and Nicola Rossi-Lemeni (Enrico VIII), with Gianandrea Gavazzeni at the podium. Read more »
The score is embellished with enough tiny notes to put Swarovski to shame. Where Barbiere and Cenerentola allow the singers a bit of leeway for comic stage business, Semiramide simply doesn’t let up on the vocal pyrotechnics – it is set in Babylon, after all, that sin city of the ancient world. One can’t really imagine the two leading ladies could do much in terms of staging and still be standing three hours later to sustain trills in harmony. Thankfully, Edita Gruberova and Bernadette Manca di Nissa have the stamina to endure the vocal marathon, and the exceptionally clear sound captures every note. Read more »
Perhaps Angela Gheorghiu is not always a perfect vocal fit for Adriana in this Royal Opera House performance
The story is enough of a cipher to make any regie-bent director salivate.
Die Entführung aus dem Serail has been a bit of an unruly child recently, with productions by Neuenfels and Bieito dividing audiences and inspiring critics like Heather MacDonald to lengthy manifestos.
Yes, the plot of Luisa Miller is a novella, and a pleasantly juicy one at that.
If the Arthaus Musik release of Le nozze di Figaro from La Scala feels like a slouchy revival pulled haphazardly from the video vault, the singers are certainly not at fault. Ildebrando D’Arcangelo and Diana Damrau, starring as Figaro and Susanna, are bankable stars who live up to the hype. At the podium, Gérard Korsten leads serviceably, although he rarely manages to bring much excitement to the score. But the real problem is the staging, or rather in the lack thereof.
A 1989 production of Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera should have been another jewel in Herbert von Karajan’s already quite impressive crown. A stellar cast, an impeccable orchestra, an enormous period set –the grand opera of Salzburg under his regime. He had recently finished a studio recording with the cast, and was preparing them for the opening night. Unfortunately, Karajan died shortly before the premiere, and as a last minute replacement, Georg Solti was flown in. This DVD records a revival from the following year with the same cast, and any hiccups that may have occurred at the debut have [...]
Cher Public