Wonderful commentary on this brilliant film, Paul. Cenrentola is a difficult opera to get right (unlike Barbiere), and it's mostly a matter of balance. Cenerentola is a comic opera, certainly, but with a large dose of pathos. I remember watching a production on DVD (starring Ann Murray) that utterly sucked the humor out of it, with the result that it suddenly seemed quite boring, and the Magnificos' repentance didn't come across as sincere.
@90lysander Then I went to see a production that ignored the pathos and played up the comedy, to the point where Cenerentola became a minor character and one remembered not her, but everyone around her. Of course, she's a hard character to play anyway, as she doesn't have any huge solo passages until the finale, and you really need someone extraordinary to make her memorable. Von stade is that person, most definitely.
Wonderful commentary on this brilliant film, Paul. Cenrentola is a difficult opera to get right (unlike Barbiere), and it's mostly a matter of balance. Cenerentola is a comic opera, certainly, but with a large dose of pathos. I remember watching a production on DVD (starring Ann Murray) that utterly sucked the humor out of it, with the result that it suddenly seemed quite boring, and the Magnificos' repentance didn't come across as sincere.
90lysander 1 year ago
@90lysander Then I went to see a production that ignored the pathos and played up the comedy, to the point where Cenerentola became a minor character and one remembered not her, but everyone around her. Of course, she's a hard character to play anyway, as she doesn't have any huge solo passages until the finale, and you really need someone extraordinary to make her memorable. Von stade is that person, most definitely.
90lysander 1 year ago
Bravissima Von Stade! As far I'm concerned, the BEST Cenerentola ever!!!
IlxGatoxNero 2 years ago 2
Thanks for posting this!!
flautasdulces 2 years ago
Magnifica la regia e bravissima la Von Stade!
Arithmos90 2 years ago