An Average Production
Mark E. Herriott | North Bend, WA | 07/07/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"When I selected this DVD of La Gioconda, I did so without the help of any previous reviews. I don't like minimalist productions of operas...unless they're free. There are basically no sets to this production filmed in the Verona amphitheater, other than three bridges over what is suppose to be the Grand Canal in Venice. The costuming is uninspired. One would think that someone would have changed their clothes at least once during this production, if for no other reason than to attend Alvise's party. I've never figure out exactly what the choreography is supposed to be for the Dance of the Hours ballet, but I don't think it would have been danced by ballerinas in pastel colored slips. As for the singers, I found them adequate and well cast in their parts. I was going to give this production three stars, deducting one for no sets and a second star for marginally acceptable costumes, but then decided to deduct another star for the make up artist giving La Cieca large red racoon circles around her eyes."