Riccardo Frizza, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Christianne Stotijn, Maxim Mironov - Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri (2008/2006)
Riccardo Frizza, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Christianne Stotijn, Maxim Mironov - Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri (2008/2006)
NTSC 16:9 (720x480) VBR | Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | (DTS, 6 ch) | (Dolby AC3, 6 ch) | 7.61 Gb (DVD9) | 134 min
Classical | Bel Air | Sub: Francais, English, Deutsch, Espanol
NTSC 16:9 (720x480) VBR | Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | (DTS, 6 ch) | (Dolby AC3, 6 ch) | 7.61 Gb (DVD9) | 134 min
Classical | Bel Air | Sub: Francais, English, Deutsch, Espanol
Rossini's wonderful comic opera, written when he was only 21, to an Italian libretto by Angelo Anelli, was first performed in Venice on May 22, 1813. Since then audiences have thrilled to such mezzos as Teresa Berganza and Marilyn Horne, in the title role of Isabella, the Italian girl who torments the Pasha into loving his own wife. Here rising star Christianne Stotijn, a BBC Young Generation Artist, moves into new repertoire in this production from Aix-en Provence, 2006, conducted by Rossini specialist Riccarda Frizza and directed by Toni Servillo.
Aix-en-Provence is generally a guarantor of musical excellence and this performance is no exception. Maxim Mironov may not be as well known as Flórez but he is rightly the tenore digrazia of choice for leading Rossini houses much as Nicolai Gedda and Luigi Alva were a generation or so ago. In those days, no bass was capable of singing Mustafà properly, without cuts and with all the notes in place. Marco Vinco, one of a new breed of Rossini basses, is exemplary.
Christianne Stotijn is not the most fetching or dynamic of Isabellas but she will 'do'.
Conductor Riccardo Frizza makes the most of his eight minutes on camera in the overture, play-acting like a fantasy conductor in front of his gramophone before bringing the orchestra to its feet for time-consuming bows and solo plaudits. What follows, however, is taut and well drilled. Space is given for the comedy to flower, though Frizza's tempo is too quick in the wonderful duet between Isabella and Taddeo 'Ai capricci' (the marking is Allegro not Allegromolto) where he appears oblivious to the fact that Rossini's use of musical form is a key contributor to the comedy (Isabella flattening Taddeo with a rejoinder which also happens to be a sonataform recapitulation). The duet barely raises a smile from the audience.
A single set does service throughout: an empty stage dominated by a three-story ziggurat that can be transformed into the prow of a threedeck ocean liner at the drop of a painted cloth.
For much of the evening there is movement in and around the ziggurat but no production to speak of – unless you count Haly being sent into the audience to sing his chirpy sorbet aria 'Le femmine d'Italia'. It is in effect a colourfully costumed concert. That said, director Toni Servillo's minimalist approach works well in the pivotal Act 2 quintet and climactic Act 2 trio. As stage comedy L'italiana must seem pretty thin stuff to modern audiences, yet the various elements in the Rossini cuisine come together most agreeably in the closing scenes of this Aix production. (Gramophone Classical Music Guide)
Cast:
Isabella - Christianne Stotijn
Lindoro - Maxim Mironov
Mustafa - Marco Vinco
Haly - Ruben Drole
Taddeo - Giorgio Caoduro
Elvira - Elisaveta Martirosyan
Zulma - Sabina Willeit
Arnold Schonberg Chor
Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Conductor - Riccardo Frizza
01. Introduction
02. Sinfonia
03. Serenate il mesto ciglio (1. Akt)
04. Ritiratevi tutti
05. Languir per una bella
06. Ah, quando fia ch'io possa
07. Se inclinassi a prender moglie
08. Quanta roba! Quanti schiavi! - Cruda sorte! Amor tiranno!
09. Già ci siam
10. Ah! Isabella … siam giunti a mal partito
11. Ai capricci della sorte
12. Ascoltami, Italiano
13. Dunque degg'io lasciarvi?
14. Già d'insolito ardore
15. Vi dico il ver
16. Viva, viva il flagel delle donne
17. Pria di dividerci da voi, Signore
18. Uno stupido, uno stolto (2. AKt)
19. Amiche, andate a dire all'Italiana
20. Qual disdetta è la mia!
21. Oh, come il cor di giubilo
22. Ah! Se da solo a sola
23. Viva il grande Kaimakan
24. Kaimakan! Io non capisco niente
25. Ho un gran peso sulla testa
26. Dunque a momenti
27. Per lui che adoro
28. Io non resisto più
29. Ti presento di mia man
30. Con tutta la sua boria
31. Le femmine d'Italia
32. E tu speri di togliere Isabella
33. Pappataci! Che mai sento!
34. Tutti i nostri Italiani
35. Pronti abbiamo e ferri e mani - Amici, in ogni evento - Pensa alla patria
36. Che bel core ha costei!
37. Dei Pappataci s'avanza il coro
38. Son l'aure seconde, son placide l'onde
39. Mio Signore - Mio marito
Riccardo Frizza, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Christianne Stotijn, Maxim Mironov - Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri (2008/2006)
Riccardo Frizza, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Christianne Stotijn, Maxim Mironov - Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri (2008/2006)
Riccardo Frizza, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Christianne Stotijn, Maxim Mironov - Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri (2008/2006)
Riccardo Frizza, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Christianne Stotijn, Maxim Mironov - Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri (2008/2006)
