Puccini 150, not out!

[knight66]

I assume there will be celebrations to mark the anniversary of the composer's birth. Every opera house will be programming at least one of his works; though I wonder, will we notice; as his operas are fairly ubiquitous in non-anniversary years.

I have started the year by buying a newly issued Tosca. It is by Decca:
Bryn Terfel (Bass Baritone), Catherine Malfitano (Soprano), Richard Margison (Tenor)
Conductor:  Riccardo Chailly
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra,  Netherlands Opera Chorus Director: Nikolaus Lehnhoff.

This DVD has been mentioned elsewhere on the forum. Although it may not please purists, I thought it was a completely successful fresh take on the piece. The sets and lighting are atmospheric and the timescale indeterminate; late industrial revolution meets frock coats with a futuristic twist.

Act two looks almost art deco, a very stylish black marble hall. Each scene is dominated by a vast turbine, sometimes still, other times turning slowly and with dramatic shadows from the lighting effects.

The singing is never less than good. Malfitano has lost power in her lower register and she seems to avoid the etched exclamations Callas brought to this role. That sometimes leaves her sounding undercharacterised. But it is a committed performance, she looks sensational and stylish. Her acting is more 'grand' that Terfel's. This was his first stab at the part and he was well able to make it his own. He looks sexy and dangerous and his acting is much more natural than his Tosca's. He uses small gestures, a slightly raised eyebrow, a face going slowly rigid. She signals everything to the back stalls.

Margison has no noticeable expressions and that pretty much goes for his singing. He has a good voice, sings well, but does not appear to be all that engaged. He is a complete biffer to look at and when standing next to a similarily clad Terfel, the difference was marked. Terfel has such presence and is projecting communication all the time.

The orchestra sounds superb, Chailly does not go hell for leather, blood and guts. Rather he takes some passages dangerously slowly, the Te Deum is funereal, but it works. Act 2 seems a bit too much stop and start, I prefer a sweep that grips you. But his is a valid way, he is always thoughtful.

The look of it, Terfel, the production, Chailly and a good Tosca. It really is compelling. A winner of a performance.

Mike

[Sarastro]

Last month I was at La Boheme, though it was 2007 still  , now Tosca and La Rondine are coming, and then Il Trittico and Butterfly in autumn. Sounds pretty nice.
Thanks for notifying the anniversary, I wonder what is planned at Torre del Lago's Festival.

[Brünnhilde forever]

This topic over one year old? I dug it up - and I am not even Puccini fan!

But I am now listening - for the second time, this time in the background, this afternoon with full attention - the newly released EMI CD of Madama Butterfly with the top roles being presented by three winners! The title role is sung  by Angela Gheorghiu! What a voice and what a dramatic performer. Every note is right on the dot, no searching for the right place as another soprano is known for.

Then there is Jonas Kaufmann, the German tenor, who is being rated as the man to fill the gap left by Pavarotti. Kaufmann's tenor is a bit darker, but much stronger than Pavarotti ever was. Kaufmann and Gheorghiu are a perfect match.

And it's all held together by another star: Antonio Pappano. He is conducting the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. It's a studio recording and I hope some day Gheorghiu and Kaufmann will be seen in this opera, not only heard.

[T-C]

Lis, That's a surprise!

I think this is a very good recording of Butterfly, although it will not replace my favorite recordings for this opera. Pappano is an excellent Puccini conductor, and his rendition of the orchestral score is second to none. Form the singer's point of view, my two favorite recordings of Butterfly are Freni & Pavarotti with Karajan (1974) and Scotto & Bergonzi with Barbirolli (1966).

Anyhow, IMO the new Pappano recording is a very welcome addition to Madama Butterfly discography.

[Wendell_E]

It's a studio recording and I hope some day Gheorghiu and Kaufmann will be seen in this opera, not only heard.

In an interview in the December Opera News, Gheorghiu indicated she wouldn't be doing the opera live, "Because of the second act, it's too tough. I want to keep my voice."  Of course, it is a diva's prerogative to change her mind...

[springrite]

In Beijing there will be performances of Tosca, Turandot and Butterfly at the National Opera House near Tiananmen Square. (The building is commonly known in China as The Egg.)