giovedì 25 luglio 2013

Troubles in Florence in Music and Vision 7 May



Music and Vision homepageCadenza Programme Note Library - Programme Notes by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble
Troubles in Florence
GIUSEPPE PENNISI was at the
opening night of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

The Florence annual music Festival -- named 'Florentine Musical May' but extending to the end of June -- is in serious financial trouble. The pertinent foundation no longer has any assets, but instead a stock of 36 million euros debt. Its operational expenditure exceeds subsidies and other sources of funds (tickets, advertising, selling of productions) by 5 million euros. The negative cash flow may reach 8 million euros per annum when the New Theatre (under construction for years with huge cost overruns) starts operating (now foreseen in late 2014). No one seems to know what to do with the existing theatres (four for a city of less than four hundred thousand residents). The Festival is eighty years old and has had international relevance for decades. The Italian government appointed a commissioner to try to sort out the financial troubles or to put into liquidation what is left of what used to be an important European institution. Several voices, including the newly appointed Minister of Cultural Affairs, are asking for special support. But so far, no one has come up with the badly needed cash.
A scene from the concert performance of Verdi's 'Don Carlo' at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino on 3 May. Photo © 2013 Gianluca Moggi
A scene from the concert performance of Verdi's 'Don Carlo' at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino on 3 May. Photo © 2013 Gianluca Moggi. Click on the image for higher resolution
Nonetheless, from 2 May until 25 June 2013, five operas are being performed (two in concert form) along with a number of symphonic and chamber music concerts and several special events ... unless some further reprogramming is made due to the lack of money.
Kristin Lewis as Elisabetta and Massimo Giordano in the title role of Verdi's 'Don Carlo' at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Photo © 2013 Gianluca Moggi
Kristin Lewis as Elisabetta and Massimo Giordano in the title role of Verdi's 'Don Carlo' at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
Photo © 2013 Gianluca Moggi. Click on the image for higher resolution
The Festival was supposed to be inaugurated by a stunning new production of Verdi's five act 1886 Don Carlo (generally called 'the Modena Don Carlo' after the city where it was premiered); recently I explained the differences between the various versions of this opera ['A Complex Plot', 17 April 2013]. Don Carlo is one of the costliest of Verdi's opera to stage. It's difficult to understand why the festival commissioned a new production from one of Italy's best known directors, Luca Ronconi, rather than using the 2004 staging by the late Luchino Visconti (originally produced for Rome's Teatro dell'Opera and still very effective). I am told that sets and costumes have been sent for scrap; luckily, the pictures [below] are a good testimonial of the level then achieved. A double mistake for a theatre in financial distress: to plan for a monumental five act 'grand opera' and to let an excellent staging go.
Barbara Frittoli as Elisabetta, Gemma Bertagnoli as the page Tebaldo and Violeta Urmana as Princess Eboli in Act II of Luchino Visconti's production of Verdi's 'Don Carlo', mentioned in this review, and photographed in Florence on 12 February 2004. Photo © 2004 Gianluca Moggi
Barbara Frittoli as Elisabetta, Gemma Bertagnoli as the page Tebaldo and Violeta Urmana as Princess Eboli in Act II of Luchino Visconti's production of Verdi's 'Don Carlo', mentioned in this review, and photographed in Florence on 12 February 2004. Photo © 2004 Gianluca Moggi. Click on the image for higher resolution

Violeta Urmana as Princess Eboli and Fabio Armiliato in the title role in Act III of the 2004 'Don Carlo' in Florence. Photo © 2004 Gianluca Moggi
Violeta Urmana as Princess Eboli and Fabio Armiliato in the title role in Act III of the 2004 'Don Carlo' in Florence. Photo © 2004 Gianluca Moggi. Click on the image for higher resolution

Barbara Frittoli as Elisabetta, Ayk Martinossian as a monk and Fabio Armiliato in the title role, in Act V of Luchino Visconti's 'Don Carlo'. Photo © 2004 Gianluca Moggi
Barbara Frittoli as Elisabetta, Ayk Martinossian as a monk and Fabio Armiliato in the title role, in Act V of Luchino Visconti's 'Don Carlo'.
Photo © 2004 Gianluca Moggi. Click on the image for higher resolution
Thus, Don Carlo was presented in concert form, with a few minor cuts and only one intermission, between Acts III and IV. After more than four hours, there was a fifteen minute standing ovation for the artists, mixed with 'Save the Florence Musical May' appeals.
The 'Modena Don Carlo' is quite different from the more frequently staged four act 'La Scala Don Carlo'. Its key theme is not the political and ecclesiastical oppression, but the utopia of the two young lovers and their hope for 'a better world'. Musically, there is a continuous contrast between the airy lovers and the dark and bleak world surrounding them. Zubin Mehta was in the pit on 2 May 2013 (when I was in the audience) and had also been conductor for the 2004 staging. Now he is seventy-six years old, yet his touch is more tender than in 2004.
Zubin Mehta conducting 'Don Carlo'. Photo © 2013 Gianluca Moggi
Zubin Mehta conducting 'Don Carlo'. Photo © 2013 Gianluca Moggi.
Click on the image for higher resolution
Mehta and the orchestra provided a real tapestry of musical tints and their shadings and gave prominence not only to the two young lovers but also to the friendship between Carlo and Rodrigo. Massimo Giordano and Kristin Lewis are the lovers; they are quite good but arrived tired at Act V when she has her major aria followed by a rapturous duet. The two basses, Dmitry Beloselskiy and Paata Burchuladze, were very good, especially in their taxing Act IV duet. As Princess Eboli, Ekaterina Gubanova sang to a very high standard. Gabriele Viviani did well as Rodrigo but not as convincing and melodious as Ludovic Tézier in Turin's recent 'La Scala Don Carlo' performance.
From left to right: Gabriele Viviani as Don Rodrigo, Ekaterina Gubanova as Princess Eboli, conductor Zubin Mehta, Kristin Lewis as Elisabetta and Massimo Giordano in the title role of Verdi's 'Don Carlo' at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Photo © 2013 Gianluca Moggi
From left to right: Gabriele Viviani as Don Rodrigo, Ekaterina Gubanova as Princess Eboli, conductor Zubin Mehta, Kristin Lewis as Elisabetta and Massimo Giordano in the title role of Verdi's 'Don Carlo' at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Photo © 2013 Gianluca Moggi. Click on the image for higher resolution
There were almost a dozen unexceptional singers in small roles. As usual in Florence, the orchestra and chorus did marvels.
Copyright © 7 May 2013 Giuseppe Pennisi,
Rome, Italy
-------
 << M&V home       Concert reviews        Simon Bainbridge >>
 
Is my concert listed at Music and Vision?



Nessun commento: