This recording is of
a production that started its life with
Welsh National Opera in 1982 and then
became a highlight of the 1992 Covent
Garden season with a star studded cast
which included June Anderson, Robert
Lloyd, Giuseppe Sabbatini and Dimitri
Hvorostovsky. I remember attending a
stunning May 23rd performance
when it was relayed by the BBC. Thumbing
through that programme again I notice
that it was advertised as a ‘new production’
so presumably its producer, Andrei Serban
was not associated with the original
Cardiff production of 1982.
So nine years later
how does this revival production fare?
With another distinguished cast taking
part, I find the singing and orchestra
first class with the production as good
as ever. The characterisations, costumes
and soloist movements are those set
by Andrei Serban in 1992 and they ideally
fit the mood of the piece. Groupings
give a good picture but chorus choreography
is wooden, particularly in the gay Act
I women’s chorus number. The static
picture and drab lighting do little
to complement the brightness of Bellini’s
sparkling music at this point. I do
not remember in the 1992 production
the entrance of Elvira appearing during
the opening prologue, where she wanders
around as dawn breaks. The custom is
normally to keep the audience waiting
for a diva’s entrance and in this Bellini
is no exception. Edita Gruberova on
this occasion is on fine form throughout
and delivers Bellini’s powerful cadenzas
effortlessly. She is subtle in her portrayal
of Elvira’s encroaching madness and
her simple white costume allows her
to clearly communicate a changing body
form. Her "Vien, diletto, è
un ciel la luna" is superbly acted
and her voice sustained a top note magnificently.
This was one of two occasions that stopped
the performance and rightly brought
the house down. I liked the sprightly
and gallant Arturo (José Bros)
a clear-toned high tenor with relaxed
legato. He acted convincingly, carrying
much of Act III, first with his long
soliloquy and then in his duet with
Elvira. Both were a joy to listen to.
The delicate acting of both singers
is excellent. Giorgio (Simón
Orfila) and Riccardo (Carlos Alvarez),
both with rich resonant timbre, hold
their authority and dominance with a
strong presence. Their magnetism came
across well in the ensembles.
Haider keeps a watchful
eye on the music: the orchestra is well
directed with delicate horns helping
feed the emotions. The pace is energetic
throughout and good use is made of accelerating
chorus passages to heighten dramatic
intensity. The recording is warm with
a good presence. I noticed that the
recording balance of the opening is
‘thin and top heavy’, yet after the
first chorus number a change suddenly
corrects the matter with improved acoustic.
One wonders if two evening performances
were rolled into one?
Televising a live performance
is fraught with technical difficulty
and it is important to get this right
if a DVD is to sell over its audio equivalent.
In this TDK release we have a production
that is very good in every respect.
Framing is well composed and camera
angles sensitively catch the spirit
of the occasion, with images clear and
providing accurate continuity. Visually,
the only problem lies with the bare
staging. Though a predominance of strong
top and back lighting gives the illusion
of the Dutch school of painting, it
prevents much studying of facial detail.
This may well suit the drabness associated
with puritan England and its Plymouth
setting, but it does little to enhance
visual appeal. The scenery is bleak
and scant, a criticism held in 1992:
and in Act I an over-simplistic drawbridge
and metal-framed ramparts is very crude.
More attention seems to be given to
the provision of an authentic textured
floor covering of cobbles or snow. A
single property coach on a bare snow-swept
stage barely suffices for Act III. To
me, a generally accepted minimalist
approach just won’t do: too often a
graphic designer is employed rather
than a scenic artist, and they miss
the point that romantic music with authentic
period costumes needs to be complemented
with romantic settings.
Raymond Walker
Edita Gruberova (sop) Elvira; José
Bros (ten) Arturo; Simón Orfila
(bar) Giorgio; Carlos Alvarez (bar) Riccardo;
Raquel Pierotti (mezzo) Enrichetta di Francia;
Konstantin Gorny (bass) Lord Walton;
TDK
DVD DV-OPIP [2 DVDs: 159:00]
