Search - Verdi - Aroldo on DVD

Not so early Verdi

El Critico | Aventura, Florida | 06/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The previous reviewer must have seen a different DVD from the one I just viewed!

I fell in love with this opera in the early 1980s when I purchased a CD of a live recording of a concert version of this opera at Carnegie Hall with Montserrat Caballe singing the role of Mina. Then in 1990 I read that the Sarasota Opera was presenting a full staged version of this opera for the first time ever in the United States ( I believe that to be true as of today) as part of their Verdi Cycle. I went and I was not diasapointed.

Now about this production: There is nothing provincial about it, the singers are young and unknown but they are quite good, in particular Adriana Damato,who sings well and can act. She was particulary moving in Act III. The orchestra and chorus are very good, the storm music in Act IV are like a preview into the storm music of the opening of Otello, yet to come.

The updating of the plot to the 19th century at times seems at odds with the story of a crusader, but the production is visually stunning, the sets and custumes are great, the singers look good and look their parts.

If you like early Verdi, well if you just like Verdi (remember that although the original Stiffelio was written early, Verdi revised the score for Aroldo after Rigoletto, Trovatore and Traviata!)do not miss this production.

"

I suppose this will have to do

Richard | Minneapolis, Mongolia | 05/01/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"We are unlikely to see another DVD of this revision of Stiffelio, but this present version is barely acceptable. The singing is mediocre. Then they have updated the time to the 19th century. But that is all botched. The original Aroldo was a Scottish crusader. But the costumes here are Italian. How this fits with all the talk of Palestine who knows. However in the cemetary scene why is the tomb writing in English - "Mother?" Mother is right. Or better yet, Mamma mia! And why doesn't Aroldo the soldier take killing his enemy into his own hands? Well here he is a cripple when they want him to be but not at other times. But this is also Verdi's fault changing from minister to crusader. The lightintg is such that in some scenes there is more light from the orchestra pit on stage than stage lights. A very parochial production. They should take poor Toscanini's name off the credits - he does not deserve this. Thank goodness there is already one great Stiffelio with Carrerras and Malfitano available. Aroldo doesn't do much to improve on the original and this production does even less."