The first by Ravel, the second by Puccini.
Having read a description the hilarious 70s style clothing worn in L'heure espagnole, I assumed that the production shown on TV the other week, in hilarious 70s clothing, was the same production. But that was Laurent Pelly from Paris, whereas I saw Richard Jones's productions at the Royal Opera House. Conducted by Antonio Pappano
I did not know L'heure at all until I saw it on the TV, where it mesmerised and amused me. In fact, on the TV, I much preferred L'heure to Gianni Schicchi, which I know vaguely, and know two arias well.
L'heure espagnole cast:
Torquemada: Bonaventura Bottone
Concepcion: Christine Rice
Gonzalve: Yann Beuron
Ramiro: Christopher Maltman
Don Inigo Gomez: Andrew Shore
Gianni Schicchi cast:
Gianni Schicchi: Bryn Terfel
Lauretta: Dina Kuznetsova
Zita: Elena Zilio
Rinuccio: Saimir Pirgu
Gherardo: Jeffrey Lloyd Roberts
Nella: Joan Rodgers
Betto di Signa: Jeremy White
Simone: Gwynne Howell
Marco: Christopher Purves
La Ciesca: Marie McLaughlin
Maestro Spinelloccio: Henry Waddington
Ser Amantio di Nicolao: Enrico Fissore
Pinellino: Nicholas Garrett
Guccio: Paul Goodwin-Groen
Pictures at Arena Pal
Overall, I would say an enjoyable evening with two good - but not great - operas performed excellently in entertaining productions, but not particularly an evening to go down as one of the great memories. One of the newspapers at least awarded four and five stars and I think that is reasonable. The programme contained an essay extolling the virtues of the deadly sins of lust and greed, and using them as a link between the two works.
I went on Wednesday and it's quite difficult now to write spontaneously of my memories, particularly considering how preoccupied I have been with domesticity since. I felt that in L'heure espagnole, Torquemada and Don Inigo Gomez were character part supporting hte three leading roles. I enjoyed the performances from all of them. I think Yann Beuron was my stand out - it's the second time I 've heard him live, as well on the TV, and I would be pleased to hear more of him. He seems at ease on the stage, and I find his voice to be elegant and seemingly so effortlessly produced. I noticed in this role on the TV he seemed to be playing it an amused way aware of the ludicrous character, whereas at ROH he seemed to be playing it straight, taking it seriously. Christine Rice dominated the stage as Concepcion. There have been newsgroup comments that she didn't seem to lay it very sexily, so that was on my mind when watching. I feel it was an interpretation that wasn't especially about her flaunting an overt sexuality but, being a bored housewife approaching middle age, she needed a shag. I am not sure that sexy would have added to it. I have commented before that I although I don't especially go for Christopher Maltman's voice, I do admire his stage presence; his apparent enjoyment of the roles he plays is contagious; and his pecs were admirable. I suppose he could rightly be categorised as a barihunk. And Bonaventura Bottone and Andrew Shore gave good performances in their roles, too. So, overall, although none of them are singers I would rave about they all singers who have always delivered the goods for me and whom I would not hesitate to see, and most importantly, hear again.
To my surprise, I found myself enjoying Gianni Schicchi more than L'heure, and more than I thought I would. I actually think L'heure is funnier, but the audience in general laughed more in Gianni Schicchi, and I found the drama more compelling and absorbing, although on paper L'heure looks more interesting than a set of relations arguing over a will.
There was no doubt who was the star of the evening - Bryn Terfel in a wonderful portrayal of the lead role, dressed hiliariously like a slob. And, with all due respect to his supporting cast of singers, many of them respected and experienced singers, and to the evening's first half, there is no disguising when there is one singer of genuine star status, really great acting singer. But I also noted a tenor new-to-me, Saimir Pirgu. Who I decided sounded really lovely. I thought his voice could do with some maturing, and then I discover on the web that he is only 25...! He moves around stage with ease and elegance. Oh, and he happens to be a tad handsome, too. There is a clip on YouTube of him singing Nessun Dorma but if I had bothered to watch it before hearing him live, I wouldn't have been so impressed. Excerpts from his album are available here
So, overall, an enjoyable and worthwhile evening. No grounds for criticism, but I am pretty sure I won't have this as my highlight of the year. Largely because two third-rate operas were performed well by casts that - Bryn aside - were definitely worth going to hear and see but were not absolutely top drawer.
Go over and read Barry Tone, who writes a far better account than I am capable of, from the same night.
I just don't feel that inspired to write it up.
