Rossini: La Cenerentola

It Should have Led the Pack
When I first read that there was a Cenerentola in the pipeline with JDF and DiDonato I began anticipating its release. Subsequently there were some clips on YouTube which were disturbing--not the singing but the staging. When it arrived I played it immediately to see how it would compare with the Glyndebourne DVD. Well, my anticipation of the two leads was validated. In short they are superb both vocally, dramatically and physically. As good as the leads in the Glyndebourne are (Ruxandra Donose and Maxim Mirinov) and they are very good-- but better is clearly the enemy of the good.

There are two areas of criticism, however, that must be aired. The Liceu production is a joint effort of four (!) houses. Alas it is evocative of nothing in particular. Utilitarian, but nothing more. The production at Glyndebourne is traditional yet the production is directed by Peter Hall and it shows. The Liceu production aimed at a cartoon effect. They succeeded. A pity. I wonder how long this...

A Turkish "Cenerentola"? I hope you love the cymbals!
Let me first say that I fully agree with the reviewer above, Mr. Dollinger, that the singing is first rate among the two main protaganists, Signor Florez and Signorina Didonato. I myself was put off by the staging which, unfortunately, is among the common type of euro-trash that is abundant in opera today. Why can't we just let the music and poetry speak for itself? Maybe I'm an old fashioned purist when it comes to operatic staging but what would one think if "South Pacific" was staged on the moon or in the 13th century? I mean...how many times does the stage director have to subjegate the art to their own "reinterpretation"?
My main concern with this particular performance, though, is the music and the conductor Patrick Summers. From the first few bars of the overture, and throughout the opera, in numerous places in the score - especially in the tutti parts - the cymbals are used almost without rest. You can take "L'Italiana in Algeri", "Il Turco in Italia" and even Mozart's...

excellent cast excellent production
When I bought this title I wanted to hear DiDonato's performance. Yes, she is excellent: beautiful voice, excellent technique, good acting. The other main star was less convincing for me: Juan Diego Florez is good, but his acting skills are not fitting entirely to the style of the production, sometimes he is wooden (especially when compared to the other cast members). The direction is clear and full of ideas, the director, Joan Font has a strong view on the opera and he is able to show it with colorful costumes and well-designed set. The conductor is familiar with the Rossini style, however, he uses sometimes very slow tempi which are at least strange a bit, and not always convincing.
If you compare this to the other versions available on the market, it is worth buying beacuse of DiDonato perfect performance and the stunning production. Not a classic (like Ponelle's Rossini - La Cenerentola / Frederica von Stade,...

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