This
is the lavish 1992 La Scala production with a gorgeous
mis en scène by Franco Zefferelli.
It gained some notoriety at the time because Pavarotti
was booed during a performance for his failure to
hit some notes accurately. There is nothing like that
here. But what this DVD recording does have is a sublime
performance by Samuel Ramey. His voice is large and
generous, his attention to detail so complete and
his acting so convincing that one steps back not only
in awe but in sympathy for him. I would urge considering
purchasing this DVD for his performance alone. The
third act, first scene’s duet with Ramey with
the wonderfully voiced and dramatic Cieco Nonagenario
as the Grand Inquisitor is chilling. One can feel
the force of the Inquisition and its almost demonic
grip on Spain. It is the highlight of this production.
A trim Luciano Pavarotti
is also in fine voice. He can sing, oh can he sing,
but he cannot act. He may well go down in history
as one of the finest voices of the 20th
century but alas he will not be treated well as a
great opera singer, of this I am sur. After all, opera
is drama. Callas with a far less beautiful instrument
showed us exactly what opera was all about. Pavarotti
never comes close. It does not help that the text
of the opera fails to really flesh out his character.
But his stilted movement and blank stares add nothing
of value.
Danieli Dessi, who apparently
was a favourite of Ricardo Muti, is very good in the
role of the Queen, though she occasionally does not
hold notes for their full value and this detracts
from the score of the opera and from its drama.
Paulo Coni is Rodrigo.
He has a tender voice but uses an annoying vibrato
(not all vibratos are annoying) at times. He is not
up to the task in his duets with Pavarotti.
Luciana d'Intino is
an excellent Eboli, with a beautiful voice. The modernity
of her role shows how far Verdi had progressed in
his characterization by the time he wrote this relatively
late opera.
The production design
is what one would expect of Zefferelli, sumptuous,
but in this case not outshining the production itself.
Ricardo Muti is simply excellent with the La Scala
Orchestra. This is an outstandingly dramatic score
and Muti uses every opportunity to delight us with
it. In the very tender moments, his direction is subtle
and alluring.
This is the four act
Italian version based on the five act French one composed
years earlier which had limited success in Paris.
Many would prefer the original first act to be included
for sake of fleshing out the story. For me, a two
disk set is quite enough.
- Bill Riley |
