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Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski
Stars: Ruxandra Donose, Raquela Sheeran, Lucia Cirillo, Nathan Berg, Luciano Di Pasquale, Maxim Mironov, Simone Alberghini.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10314566/
First performed 1817
Time: Late 18th century – early 19th century
Place: Salerno (Italy)
The dvd poster is the most colorful image in this opera. No idea why everything, including the Prince's abode, must be colorless. IT'S a FAIRY TALE. It's a comedy. ARGGH. Had I known this, I would NOT have purchased this copy. Don't remember why I did. Hope it was cheap.
Singing is fine. Acting is ok. The Prince is actually young and handsome, and has the bel canto thing nailed. Cindy is pretty, but her low notes sound older than she looks. (This is a mezzo role.)
Unfortunately, the father is particularly grotesque, and even when they go to the palace, he's filthier than a pig in a muddy sty. Then the barber snatches the wig off his head, and he looks even worse.
Like the music, although there's a little too much recitative. But I suspect I wouldn't notice that if the action were livelier, the sets/costumes more colorful, and the acting more comical. (Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?)
I was confused at one point: Cindy's ball gown looked like a wedding dress. Or do we have an editing problem too? The gold gown of the poster is the last she wears; no wedding cake platform in this production.
Glyndebourne Opera, cond. Jurowski; 7-
