Page 77 - BBC Music (January 2020)

Opera Reviews

Handel Ten years ago, a
list of recordings
Rodrigo
of La Traviata
Erica Eloff, Fflur Wyn, Anna Dennis, reached a total
Jorge Navarro Colorado, Russell of 253 – an
Harcourt and Leandro Marziotte; indication of how
Göttingen Festival Orchestra/ competitive this particular field is.
Laurence Cummings Marina Rebeka’s Violetta is
Accent ACC 26412 167:40 mins (3 discs) vocally confident and expertly
Written in 1707 articulated, offering a clear dramatic
when Handel was understanding of the role. She’s
22, Rodrigo was at her most effective in the big
his first Italian scene with Germont in Act II, but
opera. After while there’s plenty of personality,
its premiere it there’s also a distinct edge to the
disappeared until its revival in 1984, tone at times: more dynamic
since when it’s only had a handful variety and nuance would give her
of productions, the latest of which is interpretation additional quality.
this one with the FestspielOrchester Charles Castronovo’s Alfredo is a
Göttingen under Laurence buoyant, nicely scaled account that
Cummings’s expert direction. As Expressive soprano: again could do with greater sense of
Katherine Watson
this is a live recording, there are character and finesse; he comes over
sings French Baroque
inevitably moments when the as a likable young man – but rather
microphones aren’t ideally placed, ordinary. George Petean’s Germont
and the voices are out of focus. is notable for its vocal largesse on a
Rodrigo may not be Handel at Rossini Araby’ style with more glitter than grand scale; yet again, more subtlety
his most sublime – it reflects the a night of the stars at the London is required to humanise the role,
Ricciardo e Zoraide (DVD)
influence of Alessandro Scarlatti – Palladium. If this is supposed to be which becomes something of a
but it was enthusiastically received, Pretty Yende, Juan Diego Flórez, a knowing exercise in post-modern standard ‘big sing’. All the secondary
and the composer was rewarded Sergey Romanovsky, Victoria kitsch, it takes itself far too seriously. roles are decently done.
with ‘100 sequins and a service of Yarovaya, Nicola Ulivieri, Xabier What matters is a magnificent This is the first recording of
plate’. And as the recitatives and arias Anduaga, Sofia Mchedlishvili; Coro cast. Sergey Romanovsky as an orchestra founded in 2015
pour out of Handel’s cornucopia it del Teatro Ventido Basso; Orchestra Agorante may flash his pecs à which ‘combines a select group of
bowls along with compelling grace. Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI/ la Vladimir Putin, but he’s that musicians from various Latvian
The longer version of its original Giacomo Sagripanti; rare thing: a bel canto tenor with symphony and chamber orchestras’;
title – Vincer se stesso e la maggior dir. Marshall Pynkoski (Pesaro, 2018) a pronounced baritonal timbre. they are more than capable, as is
vittoria (‘To overcome oneself is the C Major DVD: 752608; Victoria Yarovaya as his jealous wife their conductor. The chorus – not,
greater victory’) – sums up the plot: Blu-ray: 752704 176 mins Zomira has a chest register that could after all, an operatic ensemble – is
the Visigoth king Rodrigo cheats on Ricciardo e Zoraide curdle cream, and the young South dull in tone. The sound is a little
his wife Esilena and sires a son by is frankly the American tenor Xabier Anduaga, as too bright, the chorus placed too
Florinda, whose brother Giuliano least successful of Ricciardo’s best friend Ernesto, is a far back in the overall picture, the
seeks revenge; enemy prince Evanco Rossini’s Naples voice to watch. Best of all is Flórez as offstage band too far forward. It’s
is also in love with Florinda; war is operas, with an Ricciardo. The voice may have lost a perfectly adequate performance
the backdrop, but everyone proves a exotic plot that its youthful bloom, but it remains but, given that so many others are
good egg in the end. must have seemed in fine form and as faultless as ever. available, hardly a special one.
Vocally the work is almost all in old-fashioned He is magnificently matched by George Hall
the top register, with three sopranos, even in 1818. Ricciardo, a Christian his Zoraide: Pretty Yende produces PERFORMANCE HHH
two high countertenors, and one knight, loves Zoraide, the daughter a stream of unforced tone, elegant RECORDING HHH
tenor. Moreover, this imbalance of a Middle Eastern potentate who decorations with an enviable legato
is compounded by the fact that has been vanquished by the Nubian to her phrasing. The duet for the Wagner
one of the countertenors – Russell King Agorante who, of course, also lovers is not only gloriously sung, Tristan und Isolde
Harcourt, singing Evanco – has such lusts after Zoraide. You wonder how it’s also the best thing in the score. Stuart Skelton, Gun-Brit Barkmin,
an exquisitely feminine sound that far Rossini’s heart was less in setting Briefly and magically Rossini is at Ekaterina Gubanova, Boaz Daniel,
when he duets with Fflur Wyn’s Franceso Berio di Salsa’s libretto, one with his libretto and its exotic Ain Anger, Angus Wood, Paul
Esilena it’s hard to tell their voices rather than seizing an opportunity to plot. Christopher Cook O’Neill, Andrew Foote; WASO
apart. Likewise, you might not know extend his musical style. The result PERFORMANCE HHHH Chorus; St George’s Cathedral
whether it’s Wyn or Erica Eloff’s is somehow a ‘work in progress’. PICTURE & SOUND HHHH Consort; West Australian Symphony
Rodrigo when they sing together, If only Marshall Pynkoski’s Orchestra/Asher Fisch
unless you follow the libretto. But production for the 2018 Pesaro Verdi ABC Classic 481 8518 222:01 mins (3 discs)
no praise could be too high for the Festival was progressive. Discretion La Traviata And not before
musicianship of this brilliant sextet, and restraint are completely Marina Rebeka, Charles Castronovo, time! At last
or of Cummings’s instrumental banished, with Pynkoski seemingly George Petean, Elizabeth Sergeeva, Stuart Skelton’s
ensemble: there’s ravishing continuo unaware of how opera production Gideon Poppe, Isaac Galán, Rihards Tristan is on disc.
playing and a warm tutti sound. has developed in the last 40 years. Mo!anovskis, Kri"j#nis Norvelis; And lucky the
Michael Church Apparently painted sets wobble and State Choir Latvia; Latvian Festival audience who
PERFORMANCE HHHH Michael Gianfrancesco’s costumes Orchestra/Michael Balke sat and stood – and cheered – in
RECORDING HH are in Hollywood’s best ‘Sheikh of Prima PRIMA003 121:18 mins (2 discs) the Perth Concert Hall in Western

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