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The Stage, 17 November 2004 |
by George Hall |
Puccini: La Rondine, ROH, London November 2004
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La rondine
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Two years ago the Royal Opera had a tremendous
success with its first ever staging of Puccini’s rarity The Swallow - to
translate its title into English - and they have another strong evening here
with its first revival.
This neglected score, dating from late in the composer’s career (1917),
contains some wonderful music but the overall mood is nostalgic, even
world-weary as compared to Boheme or Tosca. Updated here from Second Empire
Paris to the early twentieth century, Nicolas Joel’s lavish production
provides glamorous stage pictures and explores the milieu of kept-woman
Magda with unerring skill.
This is a great role for Angela Gheorghiu, whose physical beauty, clever
acting and superb soprano - ideal for Puccini - all find here a matchless
setting. Newcomer Jonas Kaufmann, a stylish and handsome young German
tenor, gives a performance as her naïve provincial lover Ruggero that
complements Gheorghiu faultlessly.
Kurt Streit leads the second couple as Prunier, cynical poet and
light-hearted lover to Magda’s maid Lisette, the latter a little tart of
tone in the hands of Annamaria dell’Oste and a touch overdrawn dramatically.
But Robert Lloyd is secure and quietly watchful as Magda’s older, wealthy
protector Rambaldo and Eirian James delivers a superb cameo as Suzy, one of
Magda’s good-time gal friends.
Emmanuel Villaume conducts, not quite with the passion and identification
Gianluigi Gelmetti brought to the score last time round but efficiently. It
all adds up to an evocative evening of operatic romance. |
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