Search - Mozart - La Finta Giardiniera / Eva Mei, Isabel Rey, Liliana Nikiteanu, Christoph Strehl, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Zurich Opera on DVD

A very funny and well sung performance

Ingrid Haas Martinez | Mexico City | 11/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This new version of Finta Giardiniera is one of the best performances I've seen on DVD of a lesser known Mozart opera. Although many people might find the production to be modern, I think it is very well conceived. It is set more or less in the 50's and the stage is always the same but there are a few changes with the lights and some props that are brought in that give you the idea of a garden in a big house. The acting of all the singers is impressive, specially because it is more difficult to make people laugh than to make them cry. They are all constantly doing things, although it is their key moment and this gives the performance a lot of action to look at. Harnoncourt is one of the best Mozart conductors and he makes the orchestra shine throughout the 3 hours. Christoph Strehl is Count Belfiore and he sings and acts the role to perfection. He has charm, is good looking and knows very well his technique so you can see he is really enojoying the performance. Eva Mei is Sandrina, the "Giardiniera", and she sings the role with elegance and acts the tormented role with tenderness. For me, the best female performance comes from Spanish soprano Isabel Rey who sings the role of Arminda. She is suppose to be the bad girl in the plot but you end up falling for her charm and her incredible voice. Her two arias and her comic spark are wonderful. Liliana Nikiteanu is Ramiro, Arminda's scorned lover (a trouser role) and she is very believable as a boy. Her last aria is very impressive and her sexy mezzo voice sounds perfect for the role. Special mention goes to Julia Kleiter's mischivious Serpetta, Gabriel Bermudez's tender Nardo and Rudolf Schasching's Podesta.

If you want to hear lovely music, see wonderful singer-actors and enjoy an evening with a Mozart opera, then you must buy this Bella Giardiniera!"