Cav and Pag in Madrid

[uffeviking]

With some doubt and hesitatingly I ordered the DVD of those two ancient warhorses, but it being a 2007 production at the Teatro Real Madrid spoke in it's favour. I have no regrets whatsoever!

The very first moments were a stunning surprise when Carlo Guelfi dressed in contemporary topcoat, scarf and hat appeared in the audience's center aisle singing the prologue of Pagliacci, inviting everybody to come to the play. I thought I had inserted the wrong disc because Cav was supposed to be first. It was, but the director Giancarlo del Monaco had the unique idea to invite us to both operas with this one prologue. Guelfi, while singing, made his way to the stage and asked for the curtain to be raised and the show to begin.

A very stark setting of white blocks in various shapes, resembling the whitewashed houses of Spanish villages and during the Prelude the black clad figure of Violeta Urmana as Santuzza enters slowly making her way into a niche, as if hiding. Vincenzo LaScola, Turridu, also in plain black enters singing his aria with a very strong italianate voice and slowly others of the cast, Lucia, Viorica Cortez , Alfio,  Marco di Felice, and the chorus fill the stage with everybody dressed in black. The strong contrast between the white buildings – set design by Johannes Leiacker - and the black figures fits perfectly the drama to unfold. The only difference in the costumes were the textures of the fabrics used; dull velvet next to shining taffeta, knits next to woven, a great idea by the costume designer Birgit Wentsch.

The singing is strong and dramatic, maybe a bit of tenderness or romance lacking in Santuzza and Turridu, but not detrementally effecting the overall riveting performance. We all know how it ends, del Monaco introduced a bit of a difference by having the fight between Turridu and Alfio shown on stage in plain sight and then the dead Turridu being held aloft and carried off stage by a group of choristers. – Why did the picture of Siegfried flash through my mind? – As the group of villagers exits stage left, a carnival wagon, surrounded by a colorfully dressed chorus enters stage right, lustily singing their Son quai! An unusual connection between the two operas, no break whatsoever, but not really distracting.

Another strong cast in Cav with Vladimir Galouzine as Canio, Maria Bayo as Nedda and Ángel Ódena, Silvio, giving us a very emotional, love and jelousy driven opera. Jesús López Cobos is a temperamental, gifted conductor I have heard before and admire him, though not exactly a household word around here. He deserves a lot more attention!

The setting of the Cav is in total contrast to the black/white of Pag, changing with two huge panels of clown pictures. Chorus and actors dressed in the 50th style and the action of the opera within the opera just as most I have seen; no surprises there, not even in the ending. I would recommend this DVD for the Cav, and take the Pag as an extra!

As a totally opiniated addition: These two operas were performed and recorded 27 February & 2 March 2007 and the Opus Arte DVD is already available. A mere months interval between performance and commercial release. And this from the Teatro Real in Madrid, not excactly a universally praised and world known venue as, for instance, the New York Metropolitan Opera, taking years to release a video, if ever!


spell checked

[Harry]

You make it all sound very inviting............................

[bhodges]

You make it all sound very inviting............................

That's for sure!  Those photos help, too.  I saw the Met's production of these two operas just last season, and didn't think I'd like them much, but they were surprisingly entertaining.  I was familiar with the score to Pagliacci (through Chailly's concert version with Jose Cura and the Concertgebouw), but Cavalleria Rusticana was very enjoyable, too.

This looks like yet another DVD to add to the groaning "to buy" list. 

Great descriptions, Lis! 

--Bruce

[T-C]

Thanks, Lis, for the review.

I will order this DVD when it will be available at Amazon. Another new DVD this month from Opus Arte is Berg's Wozzeck with your preferred opera director, the Catalan Calixto Bieito... It is a 2006 production from the Liceu in Barcelona. It is a very controversial production. I will definitely buy this DVD...

Next month there will be two new DVDs for Rossini's comic opera La pietra del paragone: the first is from Madrid (Opus Arte) the second was recorded in Paris at the Chatelet. This production was highly praised by Nigel, and this Naïve DVD is already listed at Amazon.


A picture from the Liceu production of Wozzeck :

 

[bhodges]

Wow, T-C, that gets my vote for "opera photo of the month"!  I will no doubt be getting this, too, since Wozzeck is a favorite.  Thanks for the heads-up.

--Bruce

[T-C]

I will no doubt be getting this, too, since Wozzeck is a favorite.  Thanks for the heads-up.

Bruce,

But don't say later that I didn't warn you: Many consider Calixto Bieito L'enfant terrible of the opera world. This production of Wozzeck is very provocative, and caused a scandal in Madrid, when many in the audience booed loudly when the director appeared on stage smiling after the show. But I am intrigued...

Bieito sets the opera in an oil refinery. Here is another picture: Franz Hawlata as Wozzeck and Angela Denoke as Marie: 
 

[bhodges]

Bruce,

But don't say later that I didn't warn you: Many consider Calixto Bieito L'enfant terrible of the opera world. This production of Wozzeck is very provocative, and caused a scandal in Madrid, when many in the audience booed loudly when the director appeared on stage smiling after the show. But I am intrigued...

  No worries.  I've read and heard a great deal about his productions, but never seen one in person.  But I'm pretty open-minded as far as these things go. 

That second photo is making me even more intrigued!  Somehow the idea of an oil refinery seems perfect for this particular opera.

--Bruce

[uffeviking]

You two, Bruce and T.C., just go ahead and buy the DVD and watch it and then I dare you to write open, uncensored reviews and post them here at GMG! I'll promise to not recommend banning you for the language you had to use to correctly describe Bieito's production! 

[bhodges]

You two, Bruce and T.C., just go ahead and buy the DVD and watch it and then I dare you to write open, uncensored reviews and post them here at GMG! I'll promise to not recommend banning you for the language you had to use to correctly describe Bieito's production! 

   

--Bruce

[uffeviking]

You like pictures? I have more, if I can convince GMG they are less than 500:

[bhodges]

Another good one, Lis.  (Sorry, didn't mean to encourage off-topic discussion of Wozzeck!)

Too many operas to view...too little time.

--Bruce

[uffeviking]

Nice GMG, thank you. 
More:

[uffeviking]

Now on to Pag:

[uffeviking]

Last one - GMG is getting cranky!

[uffeviking]

Everyone of those pictures is listed at less than 500 KB but GMG insists it's more, so I had to break them into single posts. 

Bruce, you know we don't mind interruptions or OT posts, especially if they are as interesting as the Wozzeks. I have been brainwashed of Wozzek with the film by Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski in the title role. Unfair as this is, but I will always compare any opera with this film. Maybe the one Keenlyside is performing - and hopefully coming out on DVD! - will cure me of this affliction. 

[uffeviking]

See what I mean?

[bhodges]

Lis, that looks fantastic (I love Kinski) but it's the play, not the opera, yes? 

The Wozzeck I would love to see was the one starring Matthias Goerne (below).  But I have no idea if it was taped.

--Bruce

[uffeviking]

The Kinski is called a film based on the play by Georg Büchner. Yes, the Goerne is on my MUST buy list, if it was recorded, if it's coming out as a DVD! If Goerne keeps on singing and acting as great, he might come close to knocking Keenlyside off his pedestal! 

[yashin]

i was lucky enough to see the Wozzeck from Covent Garden with Goerne and it was sensational.  I believe that it was not taped -which seems outragous for such a great production which seemed to get wide acclaim.

I really like the crop of DVDs coming from the Spanish opera houses.  However, am i not the only one who finds the Madrid opera house stage a little too large?  Productions seem to get swallowed up in there.

By the way, look out for the newe Peter Grimes DVD from Zurich out soon

[bhodges]

By the way, look out for the newe Peter Grimes DVD from Zurich out soon

Now you got my attention...thanks for that heads-up.

--Bruce