Graham Vick's Tamerlano

[Brünnhilde forever]

What a contrast: Zambello's Don Giovanni yesterday, and Vick's Tamerlano today; the contrast between Mozart and Handel! Day and Night!

I have not had time to watch the entire opera - it's three disc issue and almost four hours of performance and interview; I might finish it tomorrow and then tell you more about it. Here a few pictures to demonstrate the difference:

[Brünnhilde forever]

I firmly believe Placido Domingo should have done more Georg Frideric Handel! I heard the gasp of many devoted Handelian, but let's face it, he wrote some operas that could stand some Latin temperamental infusions, and Tamerlano, directed by Graham Vick did just fine. Domingo's baritone voice was perfect, especially those low notes, often missed by tenors. He deserved every second of applause given him by the audience in the Teatro Real, Madrid, last year.

Sara Mingardo, Andronico, is a contralto easily replacing the aging Eva Podels, which used to have the sound in her singing, but totally ignores the words. Mingardo has both, sound and diction and an extra plus: She can act!

Monica Bacelli, is another vocal treat, beautiful mezzo soprano as the evil Tamerlano and another outsanding mezzo is Jennifer Holloway as Irene. Three lovely ladies in one production are almost more than I - not too fond of sopranos - will accept. Unfortunately the last one, Ingela Bohlin, Asteria, is one of those singers giving me the hives; a thin voice, flat in every high note, sometimes, all too rarely, she manages to give them the correct sound.

The orchestra at the Teatro Real seem to be all less than thirty years old, - the lutist less than twenty! - and Maestro Paul McCreesh achieved the almost impossible, making this very long opera not only acceptable, but greatly enjoyed to the audience.

I enjoyed it too, very much though, both afternoons! 

[Brünnhilde forever]

A good shot of Vick's sets:

[knight66]

Lis, Is Domingo singing a baritone or a tenor role?

Mike

[T-C]

The Ottoman sultan Bajazet in Tamerlano is one of the greatest roles Handel created for a tenor. But it lies quite low so in the excellent MDG recording (which for my taste is the best CD recording of the opera) this role is given to a baritone. Domingo is ideal here. He is a tenor but he has the ability to sing baritone roles...

[knight66]

Thanks. I know he is moving Baritone-ward. He will be doing Bocconegra at the Met next season.

Mike