Although La Gazza Ladra(The Thieving Magpie)has one of Rossini's most justifiably famous overtures, the opera itself is rarely performed. I don't think Rossini's music is the problem, it still has its beautiful, witty style, but it is probably to do with the story. By all means, it does have a dark tone with many delightful comic moments, but even for Rossini the basic plot line is old fashioned.
For anybody wanting to seek out La Gazza Ladra, this is the ideal production to experience it(I haven't yet seen the 2008 production). The production itself is very charming with sumptuous costuming and sets. And I have to say that magpie was a masterstroke. The music is stylishly performed by the orchestra and the conducting courtesy of Bruno Bartoletti is brisk and commanding.
And I have nothing much bad to say about the singing either. I like Ileana Cotrubas, and while some mayn't be overly fond of her large vibrato, here is overall wonderful work of a consummate singing actress. With rich beautiful singing yet with enough of the Rossini style and the "girlish naivety"-like quality, and acting that is witty and moving, her Ninetta is just as quintessential as her Mimi, Ilia and Violetta.
She has a solid support cast. The tall and handsome David Kuebler has a very appealing lyric tenor voice of suitable elegance, and I know from Il Barbiere Di Siviglia that he has a gift for comedy. Alberto Rinaldi occasionally over-sings but more than effectively attacks his role with gusto, and Brent Ellis with his dark-hued baritone voice is a sympathetic and anguished father figure. Carlos Feller is a little woolly, but it is still a splendidly characterised performance, showing initially concern and then bemusement. Nucci Condo's mezzo is sturdy and quite haunting in tone, and Elena Zilio sings and acts Pippo perfectly.
My complaints though are in regard to the video quality. The camera work is not bad actually, but like I have experienced before with Kultur the picture quality is grainy and the sound is full of hissing and background noise. Overall, the video transfer is disappointing, but the singing is great and the production is charming. 8/10 Bethany Cox
For anybody wanting to seek out La Gazza Ladra, this is the ideal production to experience it(I haven't yet seen the 2008 production). The production itself is very charming with sumptuous costuming and sets. And I have to say that magpie was a masterstroke. The music is stylishly performed by the orchestra and the conducting courtesy of Bruno Bartoletti is brisk and commanding.
And I have nothing much bad to say about the singing either. I like Ileana Cotrubas, and while some mayn't be overly fond of her large vibrato, here is overall wonderful work of a consummate singing actress. With rich beautiful singing yet with enough of the Rossini style and the "girlish naivety"-like quality, and acting that is witty and moving, her Ninetta is just as quintessential as her Mimi, Ilia and Violetta.
She has a solid support cast. The tall and handsome David Kuebler has a very appealing lyric tenor voice of suitable elegance, and I know from Il Barbiere Di Siviglia that he has a gift for comedy. Alberto Rinaldi occasionally over-sings but more than effectively attacks his role with gusto, and Brent Ellis with his dark-hued baritone voice is a sympathetic and anguished father figure. Carlos Feller is a little woolly, but it is still a splendidly characterised performance, showing initially concern and then bemusement. Nucci Condo's mezzo is sturdy and quite haunting in tone, and Elena Zilio sings and acts Pippo perfectly.
My complaints though are in regard to the video quality. The camera work is not bad actually, but like I have experienced before with Kultur the picture quality is grainy and the sound is full of hissing and background noise. Overall, the video transfer is disappointing, but the singing is great and the production is charming. 8/10 Bethany Cox
