I find much pleasure in Donizetti's music. Lucrezia Borgia is not quite on the same level as Lucia Di Lammermoor, L'Elisir D'Amore, Don Pasquale and Roberto Devereux but it is compelling and is a feast for the ears. This production is far from bad but it fell short compared to the Sutherland and Devia performances.
Of course, it definitely has a lot that makes it worthwhile. The costumes and sets are appropriate to the period and look sumptuous and colourful enough. The orchestral playing has emotional power and a feel for the Bel Canto style, the chorus blend beautifully and make an effort to be as involved in the drama as much as possible and the conducting is accommodating and keeps the drama moving. The most consistent of the principals is Enrico Giuseppe Iori's Alfonso, even with a tendency to bluster he has a well-produced voice and it is also the sort that demands attention. He is an imposing figure on stage too. Nidia Palacios has a pleasant tone to her voice even if a little small and her acting is decently involving. Roberto De Biaso has a warm tone complete with tasteful style as Gennaro, but I'll be honest and say that I did find his acting to be too effete for my liking.
Unfortunately there are some let downs. The stage direction is never negatively questionable or distasteful, and the dances and banqueting were extremely well done, but there are times where it is a little too stolid(effete also in De Biaso's case) to be properly engaged in the drama. The utilisation of dancing Amazons following Alfonso got very silly and annoying. The camera work has a tendency to be rather too rapid and over-saturated, particularly in the final scene. I also hated Palacio's wig, it was a fright to look at and the platinum-blonde colour seemed jarring with everything else. The most disappointing was some of the singing of Dimitra Theodossiou as Lucrezia(the Lady Macbeth of Donizettis I've seen cited and for good reason). It is the right sort of size I think, but at the same time it is rather uncontrolled and strident with sloppy colouratura. Her acting is very dramatic and intelligent so I can't be too hard on her.
Overall, this performance was decent but it fell short at the same time. Better to see the 1977 and 1980 Sutherland productions and Devia's. I haven't seen Gruberova's DVD and will do, but I am in two minds about how that's going to turn out. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Of course, it definitely has a lot that makes it worthwhile. The costumes and sets are appropriate to the period and look sumptuous and colourful enough. The orchestral playing has emotional power and a feel for the Bel Canto style, the chorus blend beautifully and make an effort to be as involved in the drama as much as possible and the conducting is accommodating and keeps the drama moving. The most consistent of the principals is Enrico Giuseppe Iori's Alfonso, even with a tendency to bluster he has a well-produced voice and it is also the sort that demands attention. He is an imposing figure on stage too. Nidia Palacios has a pleasant tone to her voice even if a little small and her acting is decently involving. Roberto De Biaso has a warm tone complete with tasteful style as Gennaro, but I'll be honest and say that I did find his acting to be too effete for my liking.
Unfortunately there are some let downs. The stage direction is never negatively questionable or distasteful, and the dances and banqueting were extremely well done, but there are times where it is a little too stolid(effete also in De Biaso's case) to be properly engaged in the drama. The utilisation of dancing Amazons following Alfonso got very silly and annoying. The camera work has a tendency to be rather too rapid and over-saturated, particularly in the final scene. I also hated Palacio's wig, it was a fright to look at and the platinum-blonde colour seemed jarring with everything else. The most disappointing was some of the singing of Dimitra Theodossiou as Lucrezia(the Lady Macbeth of Donizettis I've seen cited and for good reason). It is the right sort of size I think, but at the same time it is rather uncontrolled and strident with sloppy colouratura. Her acting is very dramatic and intelligent so I can't be too hard on her.
Overall, this performance was decent but it fell short at the same time. Better to see the 1977 and 1980 Sutherland productions and Devia's. I haven't seen Gruberova's DVD and will do, but I am in two minds about how that's going to turn out. 6/10 Bethany Cox
