Past Production Reviews
3We went to see Carmen at the Arena Di Verona. We had 'cheap seats' that is sitting on the marble steps at the top of this Roman arena...which is all part of the experience and why we chose them. Why sit in a comfy seat at ground level when you can do it like the Romans and have a fantastic view of the Opera and everyone else! We weren't advised this in advance. but whish we had been that you can actually take food and plastic bottles of anyy drink in with you (and at 5 euros for a can of coke you need to!!) There is a great value eatery in the square outside called Brek Brek but if we'd known we would have enjoyed taking a small picnic. Carmen was a 5 hour opera! the marble steps weren't too hard on the bottom and you can hire cushions at 3 euros which goes to the Red Cross, but you probably didn't need them (or maybe I just have a very comfy bottom!) however it is hard to lean back because of the depth of the steps so if you can borrow a pillow or the like to stuff behind your back particularly for the long operas this would be advisable (as long as no one is sitting behind you you should be ok) A wonderful experience and well worth it if it's your thing.
On the podium of the Orchestra of the Teatro Regio , Marco Angius prefers a dynamic, vibrant direction, with a strong emotional and vital impact, clearly contrasting the elegiac parts and the more lively ones (the storm of the third act). To underline a preference for often full-bodied and voluminous sounds, sometimes overwhelming compared to the stage. The Slovak soprano Andrea Danková is Katěrina Kabanová, known as Katia: very musical and elegant, with a non-protruding voice, metallic in the high and at times weak in the low register, with attention to accents and singing line. The interpretation is excellent and heartfelt, where the loneliness of a woman eager for love emerges and who, with difficulty, manages to repress her erotic impulses. Baldanzoso is Boris Grigorjevič by the Ukrainian tenor Misha Didyk : shrill and vigorous vocality, characterized by almost always sure and thundering high notes, outlines a passionate and at the same time caring lover. On the shields the rehearsal of the English mezzo Rebecca de Pont Davies, in the role of the algid and authoritarian Marfa Ignatěvna Kabanova, known as Kabanicha, custodian of an asphyxiating matriarchal tradition: the voice is luminous, firm and penetrating in the high notes, in some cases opaque in the low ones; the acting is magnetic and charismatic. Characteristically centered is the weak Tichon Ivanyč Kabanov by the Slovak tenor Štefan Margita , with a brilliant and controlled voice, lively and well projected, able to bend to suggestive mezzevoci. The Ukrainian mezzo-soprano Lena Belkina as Varvara is credible : using a clear tonal voice, homogeneous and round in the emission, and a rightly flirtatious interpretation, she gives the character the freshness and imprudence of youth. The tenor Enrico Casari (Váňa Kudrjáš) and the German bass-baritone Oliver Zwarg (Savjol Prokofjevič Dikoj) performed more than good : decisive in the accents and handsome the first, remarkable in the phrasing and ugly in the scenic hatching the second. The interventions of the Chorus of the Teatro Regio , led by Claudio Fenoglio, were centered . At the end, a warm success and strong applause for all the performers
Antonio Poli is a rightly bold and pleasant Pinkerton, he boasts a beautiful timbre and a good solidity of emission: he approaches the lieutenant of the Navy with enthusiasm to enhance his boastful arrogance, he faces the duet with an excited phrasing to emphasize that the text uttered there is governed only by the ardor of the pelvis, he finally sings "Addio, fiorito asil" with a hint of sincere emotion, also exhibiting beautiful half voices there. Alessio Verna, usually listened to in smaller parts alongside, with Sharpless has the opportunity to highlight a baritone instrument of beautiful color and good volume which, combined with good acting and musical skills, helps the construction of a very multifaceted character . Excellent Suzuki Koberidze while Didier Pieri, in the role of Goro, he proves to have a disciplined voice engaged in very elegant singing. Welcomed by warm open-stage applause in the closed-mouth choir-interlude, the Chorus of the Teatro Regio di Torino confirms that it is an excellence of the Turin institution. The cast is correctly completed by Franco Rizzo (imperial commissioner), Roberta Garelli (Kate Pinkerton), Sofia La Cara (Butterfly's son) and the actor Yuri D'Agostino who, in the narration of the story, embodies Giacomo Puccini. At the helm of the Orchestra of the Teatro Regio in Turin Pier Giorgio Morandi behaves diligently. Of course, in a show where the music proceeds intermittently, constructing a complete and complete speech, getting an idea and giving an idea of one's own reading of Butterfly is difficult, if not impossible - especially in a twentieth century opera where they fail. closed numbers -, however in the isolated interventions one cannot fail to recognize the expert hand of the concertmaster who knows how to keep an eye on the pit and stage without renouncing the construction of functional atmospheres for the dramatic moment. Finally, the show, already presented to the public in Piazza San Carlo several years ago. On the cuts, inevitable due to the nature of the show that has been chosen to offer, we overlook - among the various renunciations, the "flower duet" could however be saved -. The direction Vittorio Borrelli, with scenes by Claudia Boasso and costumes by Laura Viglione is essential if not reduced to the bone: this peculiarity, however, helps Vittorio Sabadin's already well-directed adaptation to focus mainly on the human drama of Butterfly, to speak without laughter of sex tourism - in this regard, how can we forget the magnificent show by Michieletto born at the Regio itself -, without giving much attention to that oleography of a manner that often suffocates and leads to misunderstand this masterpiece
