26/35 Il Grand' Inquisitor (Don Carlo)

http://rolandovillazon.blogspot.com
Il Grand' Inquisitor Act. IVDON CARLO (Verdi)
Don Carlo - Rolando Villazon
Elizabeth of Valois - Marina Poplavskaya
Marquis of Posa - Simon Keenlyside
Philip II - Ferrucio Furlanetto
Princess Eboli - Sonia Ganassi
Grand Inquisitor - Eric Halfvarson
Carlos V - Robert Lloyd
Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden
Antonio Pappano
3 July 2008

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ROLANDO
• VILLAZON
• DON
• CARLO
• ROH
• MARINA
• POPLAVSKAYA
• SIMON
• KEENLYSIDE
• FERRUCIO
• FURLANETTO
• SONIA
• GANASSI
• ANTONIO
• PAPPANO

[Sieglinde84]

Halfvarson is the most frightening Inquisitor ever. Amongst his weaponry are fear, surprise, creepy looks, and his cavernous, black bass. (He can scare me even before he begins to sing. In the Vienna Billy Budd, he just walks in and doesn't sing for minutes, but walking in and staring at the audience was enough to feel the temperature dropping several grades.)

And Furlanetto simply IS Philip. So human and yet such a proud king.

[Helvir07]

I think Salminen much better then Halfvarson.

[Sieglinde84]

Our chief weapon is fear, fear and surprise! And awesome low notes!

...I'll come in again.

[MrCC379]

Interesting to see Philip take out a dagger at the climax of this duet. Not sure if I agree with that, but it's affective nonetheless.

[MrCC379]

@Helvir07 Not much better, but yes, better. :)

[valkenburg38]

De uitvoering van deze Don Carlos verdient alle lof!. 2 uur genieten van deze prachtige opera van Verdi vertolkt door topartiesten, in een woord fantastisch, boeiend en indrukwekkend. DvD gekocht EMI classics en blijvend genieten.

r.smeets

[jmahlon]

@Helvir07 What a dumb statement. They're different, of course they are, they're different people.  The beauty of opera, and well anything thats done over and over again is that the audience is enabled to see many different interpretations of roles. If you take this opinion about any role in opera you're cutting yourself off from appreciating the diversity of portrayals. People who go around saying so and so (who is dead) is the only person for this role is the cause of the death of opera.

[Sieglinde84]

@cernacerna Odd, I heard him as Gurnemanz in 2009 and he was in top form. And Gurnemanz isn't even his type, he's just not made for good guy roles.

[cernacerna]

@Sieglinde84 no way, I went to see this production, Furlanetto is absolutely fantastic, but Eric Halfvarson was a total rubbish, no carisma, zero technics, out of tune. It was like to hear one of the best singer with one of the worst. I was very disappointed. but it's just my opinion and taste. however I heard even worst singers, not that I'm better, but I'm not singing at the MET...

[cernacerna]

@Sieglinde84 no way, I went to see this production, Furlanetto is absolutely fantastic, but Eric Halfvarson was a total rubbish, no carisma, zero technics, out of tune. It was like to hear one of the best singer with one of the worst. I was very disappointed. but it's just my opinion and taste.

[ezev8logos]

the inquisitor's scene is the most amazing scene

[MrArche0]

This is one of the reason why opera rules as the master art!!! :) Seriously, this scene is unique, Verdi really knew what he wanted for impact the audience, setting two powerful basses against each other at this moment!! ;)