Conductor
好色で放蕩三昧を繰り広げるマントヴァ公爵は、今日もモンテローネ伯爵の娘をたぶらかしてしまいます。嘆く伯爵を笑いものにする道化師リゴレット。しかし、今日ばかりは伯爵も笑ってすますことはできません。「父親の苦悩を笑ったお前も呪われてしまえ」その言葉がリゴレットの胸に突き刺さります。そんなリゴレットの一人娘ジルダに迫りくるマントヴァ公爵の魔の手。彼は身分を偽りジルダに近づいていたのでした。そんないきさつを知らない公爵の家臣たちは、ジルダのことを「リゴレットの愛人」を勘違いし、誘拐して館に連れてくるのですが・・・。
Conductor
Live performance from Zürich Opera House, 2001. “Vesselina Kasarova’s Rosina turned this Barber into a major event. Pearling coloratura, endless resources of vocal colour and nuance and phenomenal acting versatility became mere means to an end: that of making Rosina into a human being of flesh and blood, with heart, humour and considerable brains.
Conductor
La Fanciulla del West, Puccini's penultimate opera is based on a play by David Belasco set at the height of the notorious California gold rush. The composer took three years to complete the work, which, for him, marked a new stylish departure. With more modern harmonic combinations and local melodies, Puccini pieced together a far larger canvas than anything he had tackled before. In this recording, Piero Faggioni's highly detailed staging is matched by Ken Adam's superbly atmospheric sets. Carol Neblett sings the role of Minnie "The Girl of the Gold West," Placido Domingo is as ignitable as ever in the role of Dick Johnson, alias the bandit, Ramirez, and Silvano Carroli sings the sinister sheriff, Jack Rance. Conducted by Nello Santi.
Conductor
Although Domingo was younger and Banackova looked more like the sweet and innocent young Madalena than the one played by Tomowa-Sintow in the ROH production, this production was not as good. It was not as tight and neat. The tempo set was far too slow for the time-period of the story. The stage setting was distracting. The lighting was too dark. Except Domingo, a natural actor who was always into his role and sings and acts with passion, none of the other performers came up with a convincing portrayal of the role he/she played.
