Rossini - La Cenerentola
by Christoph Eschenbach, Fabio Sparvoli
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Alessandro Corbelli, Cecilia Bartoli, Enzo Dara, Michele Pertusi, Raúl GiménezDirector: Christoph Eschenbach, Fabio Sparvoli
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); German (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Chinese (Subtitled); Italian (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Original Language); French (Original Language); German (Original Language); Spanish (Original Language); Mandarin Chinese (Original Language)
Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 159 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-06-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Decca
Movie Reviews of Rossini - La Cenerentola
Movie Review: Beautiful Production and DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
Roberto de Simone's intimate, 1790's LA CENERENTOLA for the Teatro Communale di Bologna was presented at Houston Grand Opera in 1994 and telecast the following year. The production is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen of an opera; the sets and costumes look like fanciful children's book illustrations. True, the direction is often rather static; but de Simone's aim seems to have been to create a truly "period" staging - a production that might have been put on in Rossini's own time. Bruno Campanella's effervescent conducting is in keeping with this chamber-opera feel: it may lack something in dramatic weight (CENERENTOLA is perhaps the most "serious" of Rossini's comedies), but at least the maestro never Romanticizes Rossini, never tries to make the music sound like something it is not.
The telecast was Cecilia Bartoli's American TV debut, and as Angelina she completely justified the "hype" that surrounded her at the time. Her mezzo is a marvel: multi-hued and shaded, clear and delicate, yet quite dramatic where it needs to be (in the Quintet, for example). She inhabits the character of Cenerentola, as does Raul Gimenez that of Prince Ramiro. His and Bartoli's Act I duet ("Un soave non so che") is an oasis of calm in a witty Rossinian fairy tale. The almost heroic weight of which Gimenez's voice is capable is all the more effective in contrast to his exquisitely soft and subtle singing in the greater portion of the opera.
The supporting cast includes Enzo Dara (Don Magnifico), Alessandro Corbelli (Dandini), and Michele Pertusi (Alidoro). Corbelli's Dandini has since become legendary (a British critic once called it one of the finest operatic characterizations of our day), and here one can see why: it is subtle, humorous, and very richly sung. Veteran buffo Dara as the stepfather looks like Ed Wynn (of MARY POPPINS and "I Love to Laugh" fame). Unfortunately, there are times during the performance when I almost think I would rather hear Ed Wynn sing the role; Dara's voice at first sounds fresh and strong, but in Act II he hits some incredible "clinkers." Along with this his acting tends to be too silly; altogether, he is no match for Corbelli's subtlety in their Act II duet. (Dara's card-throwing in his third aria is a rare instance of inspired silliness, particularly in combination with his perfect patter.) Young bass Pertusi, however, provides plenty of vocal freshness in his lengthy, wonderful aria "La del ciel." His voice, not large, is dark in color and amazingly agile. Laura Knoop and Jill Gove have pure, Rossinian voices and much character as the stepsisters.
Having loved this CENERENTOLA on videotape for several years, I was thrilled to receive the DVD, with its perfect sound and picture quality. The Bologna/HGO CENERENTOLA is a beautiful production that one can enjoy again and again. I treasure it!
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