Puccini: La rondine - Live from the Met [DVD] [2010] [NTSC]

 

 

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Opera-lovers and Puccini himself owe a huge debt of gratitude to Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna, who have invested an enormous amount of their time, enthusiasm and great talents in ensuring that this operatic masterpiece has come to the attention of a global audience over the course of the last decade and a half. Since their wonderful recording of this opera with Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra released in 1997 on the EMI label, they have performed and promoted this work in major world opera houses, notably the Royal Opera House and of course here at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Outstanding as their recording was, it is now wonderful to have this superb performance from the Met which adds several extra dimensions to our enjoyment and appreciation of the opera. It has marvellously evocative sets using Art-Deco design for the locations in Paris and Nice. The production is updated from the mid 19th century to the 1920s, an era in which the story and the music fit extremely well. The costumes are excellent and Angela Gheorghiu looks simply gorgeous.

The performance is dominated by the Magda of Angela Gheorghiu. This is a virtually flawless performance (all the more remarkable because this was a live HD transmission on an evening when Ms. Gheorghiu was feeling unwell). She absolutely looks the part, statuesque and beautiful in entirely appropriate costumes. It is, of course, most tellingly because of her marvellous combination of personality, excellent acting and superb singing that we have in her the ideal performer to portray a woman torn between worldliness and romance. Her vocal line is always stunningly beautiful but enhancing this at all times is the wonderful subtlety of her acting and vocal expression. She is clearly living the part rather than just portraying a character.

Roberto Alagna is also excellent, he has aged less well than Gheorghiu and is perhaps not quite looking the young country innocent that was once the case. This is a minor flaw however, his acting and singing are still as excellent as ever and the partnership with his then wife benefits enormously from the closeness and genuine affection that has always been evident in their stage performances.

The second couple in the opera is the slightly incongruous pairing of the poet Prunier and the maid Lisette. Again we are very fortunate to have an almost perfect casting in Marius Brenciu and Lisette Oropesa playing these roles. They are both performers I had never seen before but I was extremely impressed with their performances. They play the comic elements of their roles very well but above all they are again that ideal combination of excellent actors and great singers and between them bring lots of additional nuances to the performance which hugely enhance our enjoyment.

As for the music, it is one of Puccini's most modern and to some extent experimental scores, but above all it is Puccini. It was originally conceived as an operetta and there are still some Viennese elements here, the salon scene, the waltzes and other dance melodies. Above all, however, it is classic Puccini, the memorable melodies are here in abundance. The great quartet from the end of Act 2 is one of his finest ever melodies, it implanted itself into my brain when I first heard it on the the 1997 recording and there has scarcely been a day since when I have not sung it to myself. There are other great melodies too, together with all the orchestral brilliance and complexity of mature Puccini.

The DVD is well produced in very high quality sound and picture. The performance was recorded in 2009, so this is a very rapid release as has become the pattern with these HD broadcasts from the Met. The other welcome feature of this excellent series, which is repeated here, is that the list price is very modest and there are usually some very good offers available on these DVDs. Running time is 1 hour 54 mins for the opera programme plus 8 minutes of backstage interviews of the two leading couples by Renee Fleming.

This is a very bitter sweet performance from opera's one time golden couple. The opera which brought them so much praise when they first performed it is now, sadly, their swansong. The Alagna/Gheorghiu marriage was in its decline when they performed in this opera and it shows. Gheorghiu's Magda remains just ever so slightly aloof and Alagna's heartbreak in the final act is extremely moving. A real case of life mirroring art here and all the more poignant and beautiful for it.

This dvd of the stage performance which I saw at Covent Garden is a wonderful reminder of one of the best evenings at the opera that I have ever experienced. A real treasure. The Puccini opera that everyone should make sure that they do not miss.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Puccini's remedy for all ills
From beginning to end this "bijou" from Puccini is just pure, lyrical delight. Originally commissioned as an operetta it combines luscious tunes backed up by Puccini's solid... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Susan Placet

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!
I don't understand why this opera isn't performed that much nowadays. This is the best production available. Read more

Published 8 months ago by C. Wootten

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment
The production sadly reveals the limitations of Mme Gheorghiu's thespian abilities! Vocally strong but visually irritating! Read more

Published 10 months ago by Ian Moore

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid performance of unjustly neglected work!
The music from La Rondine is not new to me but it was in its entirety! This is a lovely staging, design especially good, and the performance from all, is as good as the others... Read more

Published 10 months ago by Mr. DAVID Geer

4.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable
not one of puccinis best but well worth listening to. and well performed by th artists But what else would we expect from the met

Published 11 months ago by daipenn

3.0 out of 5 stars Watchable, but that's about it.
I did not find it having anywhere near the depth and storyline that would make me give it more than the three stars I did. Read more

Published 12 months ago by operatic

5.0 out of 5 stars Delight
At last a succesful DVD of Puccini's wonderful opera. This is Puccini having a good time. It's not heavy drama but a constant string of good tunes and fresh and delightful... Read more

Published 13 months ago by Andrew Baker

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent production and performance
Angela Gheorghiu is superb in this production and Roberto Alagna comes alive in the final act.

Published 15 months ago by Edward

3.0 out of 5 stars Rondine
A fair performance, but not morePuccini: La rondine - Live from the Met [DVD] [2010] [NTSC]

Published 16 months ago by prebenj

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