Post by joem on Jan 15, 2018 14:05:37 GMT
In 5,000 years if opera is still being staged (my bet is it will be) these two will still be paired together to make an evening's viewing. The dearth of good short operas and the stylistic and thematic links which these operas share guarantee this.
On this occasion the production worked hard to strengthen these links, going as far as having a character plaster the walls of the village square in Cavalleria Rusticana with posters for Pagliacci as the next entertainment! Which it was. A nice touch.
The chorus was in superb voice which is important in these works, especially in Cavalleria Rusticana where the tenor (Bryan Hymel, dashing and in good voice) enters relatively late in the proceedings. Anna Pirozzi as Santuzza sang beautifully and wrung the pathos as the wronged wife. A word for Elena Zilio, as Mamma Lucia - her voice is holding up magnificently despite the advancing years.
Pagliacci's drama is more psychological, although Canio's suspicions are not misplaced it is his wife's resistance to the evil Tonio's (Roberto Frontali) advances that leads to her being exposed. In the role of the jealous clown Fabio Sartori was in commanding form, a towering performance.
Great entertainment, great singing, great music.
On this occasion the production worked hard to strengthen these links, going as far as having a character plaster the walls of the village square in Cavalleria Rusticana with posters for Pagliacci as the next entertainment! Which it was. A nice touch.
The chorus was in superb voice which is important in these works, especially in Cavalleria Rusticana where the tenor (Bryan Hymel, dashing and in good voice) enters relatively late in the proceedings. Anna Pirozzi as Santuzza sang beautifully and wrung the pathos as the wronged wife. A word for Elena Zilio, as Mamma Lucia - her voice is holding up magnificently despite the advancing years.
Pagliacci's drama is more psychological, although Canio's suspicions are not misplaced it is his wife's resistance to the evil Tonio's (Roberto Frontali) advances that leads to her being exposed. In the role of the jealous clown Fabio Sartori was in commanding form, a towering performance.
Great entertainment, great singing, great music.
