Rossini - Il barbiere di Siviglia (Ralf Weikert, Rockwell Blake, Kathleen Battle) [2010]

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Rossini - Il barbiere di Siviglia (Ralf Weikert, Rockwell Blake, Kathleen Battle) [2010]

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From start to finish, this performance of Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia from the Metropolitan Opera House sparkles with comedic flair and stunning virtuoso singing. If you really want to have an excellent Barbiere from both a musical and dramatic perspective, this is one of the best performances on video. The cast is simply a delight. Leo Nucci is captured in great voice and stage presence as Figaro, one of his best roles. "Largo al Factotum" is on this performance a real show stopper, with Nucci showcasing his vocal and scenic agility, projecting the text with expression and tossing some fine high A's. During the rest of the opera Nucci is always engaging, a Figaro both intelligent and funny. Kathleen Battle is the perfect soprano Rosina. Her singing here is a real lesson on bel canto. "Una voce poco fa" is really a perfect vehicle for Battle's brilliant high notes (up to Eflat) accurate coloratura with perfect evenness between registers and and a sweet and unforced sound, never shrill or forced. These vocal wonders are displayed during the whole opera, with another showpiece at the lesson scene, "Contro un cor", which Ms Battle ends with another perfect high Eflat. To complete her portrayal Battle is also on this video young, pretty, elegant and charming. An extraordinary souvenir of Battle's career. Rockwell Blake is definitively the Rossini tenor of the twentieth century. True, his sound is not the prettier one, but his virtousity and ringing high notes are without equal. Blake sings, for the first time in the Metropolitan Opera history, the very difficult aria "Cessa di più resistere" in a stunning way. Enzo Dara almost steals the show as Don Bartolo, with his very funny portrayal and very accurate patter. "A un dottor della mia sorte" is a real gem. Ferrucio Furlanetto completes the main cast with an engaging portrayal of Don Basilio. The secondary roles are fine and the sets and costumes are very good. In summary, this video is a must for all fans of Rossini, Nucci, Battle, Blake and a great moment from the Live from the Met telecasts. And it can be great introduction to opera for kids and adults alike.

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Rossini - Il barbiere di Siviglia (Ralf Weikert, Rockwell Blake, Kathleen Battle) [2010]

Close