I Lombardi Alla Prima Crociata
Product ID: 90030086
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I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata is an operatic drama in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera. The work is based on an epic poem by Tommaso Grossi, which was "very much a child of it's age; a grand historical novel with a patriotic slant." Verdi dedicated the score to Maria Luigia, the Habsburg Duchess of Parma, who died a few weeks after the premiere. "I Lombardi best encapsulates the spirit of the Italian people's desire for nationhood. One would be pleasantly surprised, full as it is, of rousing choruses and musical numbers of great beauty, with music wonderfully expressive and perfectly in accord with drama at times. Visually and musically a sumptuous staging, full of contrasting colors and glorious singing for this young Verdi's rare work." (review by Alan Nelson / Operawire). American soprano Angela Meade and the Italian tenor Francesco Meli star in the main roles of this production, which is conducted by Michele Mariotti and was recorded in April 2018. Review: Overall good version of I Lombardi - This is an overall good version of Verdi's early opera I Lombardi. I have seen almost all of Verdi's works live, and it is always fun to revisit his more rare works. Even when they do not seem as polished as his middle period (Rigoletto, Traviata, and Trovatore) or his later masterpieces (La Forza, Otello, Don Carlos) it is nice to see how his compositions moved from bel canto to stronger, bolder operas. The production is pretty traditional, so traditionalists will probably like it. The "cavern" is about the only abstract set design (sort of diagonal brick-like structures). The other scenes are pretty traditional. Costumes are a cross between traditional and unique. The female chorus wears strange headdresses. However, nothing would upset a traditionalist. The sort of traditional, static staging fits how the singers sort of just stand and deliver. There is a short animated cartoon-looking war scene during the interlude during the last act which feels out of the blue (there were no other animated portions). That gave some action. Otherwise, this is a "stand and sing" production which is why I gave it less than 5 stars. The chorus starts a bit weak, in my opinion, but gets better as the opera progresses. This is an opera where the chorus is very important, so I was glad to hear them improve as the opera went on. Angela Meade is a very good Giselda. She makes the most out of this role which requires a lot of piano singing but also some forceful singing. It is a donna di Forza role that starts out sounding more like a soft role (her first aria "Salve Maria" in Act 1 makes you think it will be a shrinking violet type role but Giselda gets spunky later on). Meade has everything you need (high notes, coloratura, nice soft singing, a low voice when needed). I do think that her forte singing in the upper register sounds "grainy" at times due to a vibrato that some people do not like in her singing. This doesn't bother me as others, because it doesn't erase the good things she does most of the time. It is exciting to see a dramatic soprano d'agilita who can sing high, low, fast coloratura passages, add embellishments, etc. so in this type of voice there will always be some compromising. Some people find her vibrato intolerable. It doesn't bother me. Francesco Meli impressed me as Oronte with a beautiful rendition of "La Mia Letizia Infondere" (probably the most famous aria in the whole opera). I think he's getting better each time I see him. He is also looking more handsome than in previous videos. I was unimpressed with Alex Esposito at first as Pagano until he became the monk in later scenes. Maybe he was holding back......but I really liked him later in the opera. I gave the blu ray 3 stars mainly because it was sort of static dramatically. However, I was happy to find a good/decent version of this opera on blu ray with good singing. I don't think this is a "must have" video and one day there is bound to be a better version of I Lombardi with better acting and a better production, but it was enjoyable and a great addition to my collection, since I love Verdi's works. Review: Good Performance of Early Verdi - I like early Verdi: while the plots are often silly, the music is intensely melodic and energetic. This performance captures these aspects very nicely. In fact, first kudos go to Maestro Mariotti for delivering an idiomatic reading of the score. The singers are uniformly excellent, as is the chorus in delivering the essential Verdi choral parts. Picture quality is excellent, and the sound permits a detailed hearing of all the sonic elements of the opera. It has been years since I purchased a CD opera and this disc exemplifies why: for about the same price as a CD set (unless it is a "bargain' re-issue of older recordings) I get see the opera (it IS theatre, after all) and hear the sound in either HD MA or DTS modes, either of which beats CD sound. Nicely done!
| Customer Reviews | 4.1 out of 5 stars 16 Reviews |
H**A
Overall good version of I Lombardi
This is an overall good version of Verdi's early opera I Lombardi. I have seen almost all of Verdi's works live, and it is always fun to revisit his more rare works. Even when they do not seem as polished as his middle period (Rigoletto, Traviata, and Trovatore) or his later masterpieces (La Forza, Otello, Don Carlos) it is nice to see how his compositions moved from bel canto to stronger, bolder operas. The production is pretty traditional, so traditionalists will probably like it. The "cavern" is about the only abstract set design (sort of diagonal brick-like structures). The other scenes are pretty traditional. Costumes are a cross between traditional and unique. The female chorus wears strange headdresses. However, nothing would upset a traditionalist. The sort of traditional, static staging fits how the singers sort of just stand and deliver. There is a short animated cartoon-looking war scene during the interlude during the last act which feels out of the blue (there were no other animated portions). That gave some action. Otherwise, this is a "stand and sing" production which is why I gave it less than 5 stars. The chorus starts a bit weak, in my opinion, but gets better as the opera progresses. This is an opera where the chorus is very important, so I was glad to hear them improve as the opera went on. Angela Meade is a very good Giselda. She makes the most out of this role which requires a lot of piano singing but also some forceful singing. It is a donna di Forza role that starts out sounding more like a soft role (her first aria "Salve Maria" in Act 1 makes you think it will be a shrinking violet type role but Giselda gets spunky later on). Meade has everything you need (high notes, coloratura, nice soft singing, a low voice when needed). I do think that her forte singing in the upper register sounds "grainy" at times due to a vibrato that some people do not like in her singing. This doesn't bother me as others, because it doesn't erase the good things she does most of the time. It is exciting to see a dramatic soprano d'agilita who can sing high, low, fast coloratura passages, add embellishments, etc. so in this type of voice there will always be some compromising. Some people find her vibrato intolerable. It doesn't bother me. Francesco Meli impressed me as Oronte with a beautiful rendition of "La Mia Letizia Infondere" (probably the most famous aria in the whole opera). I think he's getting better each time I see him. He is also looking more handsome than in previous videos. I was unimpressed with Alex Esposito at first as Pagano until he became the monk in later scenes. Maybe he was holding back......but I really liked him later in the opera. I gave the blu ray 3 stars mainly because it was sort of static dramatically. However, I was happy to find a good/decent version of this opera on blu ray with good singing. I don't think this is a "must have" video and one day there is bound to be a better version of I Lombardi with better acting and a better production, but it was enjoyable and a great addition to my collection, since I love Verdi's works.
J**.
Good Performance of Early Verdi
I like early Verdi: while the plots are often silly, the music is intensely melodic and energetic. This performance captures these aspects very nicely. In fact, first kudos go to Maestro Mariotti for delivering an idiomatic reading of the score. The singers are uniformly excellent, as is the chorus in delivering the essential Verdi choral parts. Picture quality is excellent, and the sound permits a detailed hearing of all the sonic elements of the opera. It has been years since I purchased a CD opera and this disc exemplifies why: for about the same price as a CD set (unless it is a "bargain' re-issue of older recordings) I get see the opera (it IS theatre, after all) and hear the sound in either HD MA or DTS modes, either of which beats CD sound. Nicely done!
R**E
The La Scala production with Carreras still unmatched
This ptoduction by the Turin Opera is a disappointment. Lombardi immediately follows Nabucco in Verdi's output when he aspired to success in grand opera that would pass the Austrian censors, but nonetheless help mold national consciousness in Italy. The piece is shot through with stirring passages for chorus and imaginative scoring. So the Torino orchestra and chorus amply supply the strong points of this performance. But save for the Pirro the cast is uniformly third-rate. And the director failed to achieve the pacing which this work requires. One and one-half stars.
R**3
Ramey à la place d'Esposito !
La mise en scène est belle, la distribution autour d'Alex Esposito et Angela Meade est bien chantée, les décors et costumes m'ont séduits ! Cependant, j'ai entendu le grand Samuel Ramey dans le rôle de Pagano et il est bien plus charismatique qu'Alex Esposito ! Je sais qu'il existe un CD avec Ramey mais, hélas aucun DVD, que j'aurai préféré à celui-ci !
A**O
Molto bello.
Un'opera che non conoscevo!
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