Ritorno d'Ulisse - Dormo ancora - Thomas Allen

Claudio Monteverdi "Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria" (freely adapted by Hans Werner Henze)
Salzburg Festival, 1985 (or 1987)
Ulisse - Thomas Allen
conductor - Jeffrey Tate

My first Monteverdi opera... I know, I know, not very historically-informed, but enough to make me fall in love with this work. And I'm still moved by Kuhlmann's Penelope and Allen's Ulisse...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Thomas
• Allen
• Monteverdi
• Ritorno
• d'Ulisse
• Jeffrey
• Tate
• Salzburg
• Festival

[interpreterr]

I heard thim sing UIisse much more recently (3-4 years ago in Munich) - one of the most moving performances I've ever seen/heard.

[interpreterr]

And yes, I have heard L'ORFEO. I'm not (yet) as fond of it as I'm of ULISSE, but, who knows, maybe this will change one day...

[interpreterr]

Don't think about how you feel about this version, just enjoy it! :D I see no reason why you should not enjoy Henze's classicalisation and a very historically informed one - I do! I think it's a measure of a work's greatness, when it can move people in very different renditions.

[interpreterr]

I've explored other Monteverdi operas but Ulisse remains a firm favourite - I try to see/hear every Ulisse I can. How was Hampson in that performance? That's someone I'd like to see in this opera (though I have some reservations about him:). Agree about Kuhlmann - truly regal and so very moving!

[a96agli]

Plus he is rather easy on the eye, which is a plus ;D

[interpreterr]

Oh yes, it's always a plus -:) But there are attractive singers who leave me completely cold. In Allen's case it's also the way he moves on stage. I once talked to a German lady who had just seen him for the first time (in Fledermaus) and she asked me if he'd ever taken ballet lessons!

[drtmuir]

1) Great Headbands of the 80s:  Bruce Springsteen, Rambo, Olivia Newton-John, Ralph Macchio, Tom Allen. :P

2) Do I see some (gasp) droolage at the very end? It could happen.

3) Fantastic singing, TDF, as usual. ;)

[interpreterr]

I've seen that ORFEO and liked it a lot. It's one of the things I do like Keenlyside in - sometimes he leaves me completely cold (excellent singer that he is), but this time it wasn't the case.

[AllAboutSharp]

Hi mikitavi. Just some thoughts: There is just one particello as the source of the opera and it has been meant to be embellished and enriched by the players during the performances (either by improvisation or prior arrangement by the conductor). Not really knowing, how they did it during that period, we can imitate works from the same period or try something totally different, like Henze. Obviously there are some weaker parts (like 2:48 - 3:00), but in general I find the approach very inspiring.

[AllAboutSharp]

I am absolutely fascinated by this version of the opera. Knowing the opera pretty well, I think it is done very well. Especially the orchestral colours before (O sogno1:55) are fabulous! And Thomas Allen is simply wonderful and at his vocal best. Thank you for posting this.