lsmX-1 ml1 - La Scena Musicale

desire for the bad girl Tigrana. Despite its
longueurs, this opera, when well performed, as it is
here in a beautiful production, makes for an enjoyable
evening at the theatre. The singing is good if
flawed. Argentinean tenor Jose Cura is at his stentorian
best, an approach that works well in this
blood and guts piece, and he is in excellent voice.
Marco Vratogna (Frank) has a powerful and rich
baritone that he uses to advantage in his few
moments in the sun. He is also a powerful actor. As
Gualtiero, Carlo Cigni shows off an impressive
bass-baritone. Too bad Amarilli Nizza is such a
maddeningly uneven Fidelia, shrill and flat one
moment, but rising to the occasion with a searingly
effective aria and concertato in Act Three.
Russian mezzo Julia Gertseva sings strongly as
Tigrana. Her makeup and costume could easily
have made her pass for Carmen, not inappropriate
since the two characters bear a strong resemblance.
Israeli conductor Yoram David shows a true
grasp of the verismo style, drawing exciting sounds
from the Torino forces. The unit set is beautiful,
and the videography is superb.This is an important
addition to the discography of early Puccini.
JKS
Salonen: LA Variations / Sibelius: Symphony No. 5
UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra/Esa-Pekka Salonen
Director: François-René Martin
Medici Arts 3078648 (56 min)
★★★★★★ $$$
Like so many other
music festivals the
Verbier Festival in
Switzerland brings
together some of the
most talented young
musicians to form an
orchestra and invites
well-known conductors
to lead them. On
July 26, 2007, Esa-
Pekka Salonen was on
the podium and I’ll bet those kids will remember
the occasion for the rest of their lives. For here
was a great Finnish maestro conducting the
music of his most famous countryman in an
absolutely authoritative and spell-binding performance,
and for good measure introducing the
young musicians to his own music.
Salonen recently completed a hugely successful
tenure heading the Los Angeles Philharmonic
but he is barely into middle age, with many productive
years ahead of him both as a conductor
and a composer. His LA Variations is original and
engrossing from beginning to end. Salonen constantly
finds new sonorities and, unlike many
contemporary composers, has no trouble creating
music in quick tempo and music with a sense
of humour. The UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra
played the piece brilliantly.
Salonen has special insight into Sibelius’s Fifth
Symphony. Without underplaying the romantic
tunes, he uncovers the complexity of the symphonic
construction and generates a fearsome
energy that reminds us that this music was contemporary
with Stravinsky, Schoenberg and Ravel
when it was composed in 1915.
PER
Novembre 2009 November 73