Headlining the production in the
title role, Alessandro Corbelli steals the show… if not only
Buoso’s inheritance. Felicity Palmer (Zita) and Marie McLaughlin (La
Ciesa) offset Corbelli’s caricature-like Schicci with comic panache.
Of course, Rinuccio’s “Firenze Ë come un alberto
fiorito,” sung by Massimo Giordano, and Lauretta’s “O mio
babbino caro,” sung by the youthful and beautiful Sally Matthews, were
the typical highlights of this work. In this particular production, however,
these familiar arias are woven into the fabric of larger than life drama
created by the whole ensemble, and do not appear as the typical
“number.”
What is so surprising about Glyndebourne’s production is their
ability to transport this piece, originally set in Medieval Florence, to the
Florence of the 1940’s. Sets, costumes, intricate staging, and comic
action shaded with sinister intent color this production in a fascinating
light. Vladimir Jurowski leads the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Total time: 77 minutes; extras include: interviews with stage director
Annabel Arden, conductor Jurowski, baritone Alessandro Corbelli; a narrated
and illustrated synopsis; a gallery of pictures of the cast. Sound: Stereo or
DTS surround sound. Subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish and
Italian.
Sarah Hoffman
image=http://www.operatoday.com/content/Gianni_Schicchi.gif
image_description=Giacomo Puccini: Gianni Schicchi
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product_title=Giacomo Puccini: Gianni Schicchi
product_by=Alessandro Corbelli, Massimo Giordano, Sally Matthews, Felicity Palmer, Marie McLaughlin, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski (cond.). Director: Annabel Arden.
product_id=Opus Arte OA 0918 D [DVD]
price=$22.99
product_url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009K7J5A/ref=ase_operatoday-20/002-2501870-1146425?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130&tagActionCode=operatoday-20