Rossini - La Gazzetta / Cinzia Forte, Bruno Pratico, Pietro Spagnoli, Charles Workman, Maurizio Barbacini, Liceu Opera
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Agata Bienkowska, Dario Fo, Marc Canturri, Marisa Martins, Simon OrfilaBrand: Naxos OF America INC
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); Dutch (Subtitled); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Italian (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Italian (Original Language), DTS 5.1
Format: Classical, Color, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 155 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-07-25
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC / Opus Arte
Movie Reviews of Rossini - La Gazzetta / Cinzia Forte, Bruno Pratico, Pietro Spagnoli, Charles Workman, Maurizio Barbacini, Liceu Opera
Movie Review: Priceless
Summary: 5 Stars
My first impression of this production of "La Gazzetta" was poor due to the timid, almost amateurish delivery of the Overture (from La Cenerentolla). The dance/ballet/vaudeville inclusions inspired by this operas French setting was also jarring in the beginning. My perception slowly gained confidence and by the end of the second act I ccouldn't stop loving this opera or production! It takes the whole package to see past what appear to be imperfections that unfold into art by the close of the piece.
This productions greatest strength is its recycled heritage and anonymity. La Gazzetta itself is a hodgepodge of new material, reworked material and direct transplantation of other material making it a seemingly incongruent piece. It has most in common with Il Turco in Italia, borrowing a few numbers from that opera along with it's basic structure. The difference here is that the dramatic weaknesses from Il Turco where given attention by Rossini and Palomba back then with contemporary elaboration added now in the form of additional text (which seem ½ recitative and ½ operatic numbers) and staging to further support the progress made by its creators.
This is where its strengths play in: its hodgepodge essence allows for further addition and subtraction of numbers or text and its anonymity allows for such revisions and alterations to be accepted by the public. Most of the additions made serve to accentuate the "play within a play" concept cementing any lose ends the original production may have exhibited in the realm of believability. It's high comedy at it's best.
The worst part of this opera in my opinion is the overture so don't be alarmed by its poor quality, the musical direction in the rest of the opera is top notch. You can tell the maestro has a special place in his heart for Rossini because the score comes alive with bright, vivid orchestration, and most importantly for me: lively tempi (a must for this period of Italian opera). The complaint over the audio options another reviewer mentioned is true to an extent, I found the stereo sound to be fine as an alternative to DTS (which I couldn't utilize either).
The performers were, all in all, fantastic and at least qualified to sing their parts. The standout performers for me were Charles Workman (Alberto), Doralice (Marisa Martins), Pietro Spagnoli (Filippo) and the singing of (Cinzia Forte). Forte's acting wasn't the greatest but her high notes and control were incredible. Martins was the most charismatic and a great vocalist for her range while Workman managed to breath comedic life into your traditional Cavalier stock character (his vocals where top quality too). Spagnoli excelled as the successful inkeeper and man-in-love with that made man quality all too evident in his stage presence.
Agata Bienkowska did well in her role as Madame La Rose, playing up the playful temptress aspect of her character even though she acts as a mere bystander throughout most of the production. Orfila as Traversen and Canturri as Anselmo were part of the ensembles and recitative only so their roles are minor and forgettable. Lastly, Pratico as Pomponio may be an acquired taste. He managed well for the first act of the opera but seemed to slow down during the first act finale and into the second act. At times, I wasn't sure if he was concentrating or about to keel over from exhaustion. His range of facial expressions during complicated numbers was extremely limited and he only really shined dramatically during the recitatives.
Last but not least is the appearance and stage direction. Before I had known of the existence of this DVD, I had always imagined this opera taking place in either the 30's, 40's, or early 20th century in general. Needless to say, that period fits the context of this opera rather well as Dario Fo also discovered. His costumes, set designs and direction are superb with an emphasis on both the elegance and fun of art deco and modernist movements.
I highly recommend this production for Rossini fans first and anyone else interested in a good time (musically of course).
More Rossini - La Gazzetta / Cinzia Forte, Bruno Pratico, Pietro Spagnoli, Charles Workman, Maurizio Barbacini, Liceu Opera reviews:
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Summary of Rossini - La Gazzetta / Cinzia Forte, Bruno Pratico, Pietro Spagnoli, Charles Workman, Maurizio Barbacini, Liceu Opera
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