Tancredi is not one of Rossini's best operas to me. I have nothing whatsoever against the music, that is wonderful in every regard. The story is just rather static, though not as much as La Donna Del Lago, and is not going to unanimously engage everybody. I however did find this production very engaging to watch. The stage direction succeeds in making the story interesting, done with graceful panache with no sense of pretension. Plus everything that goes on here is done for a reason instead of superfluously done, and is never static. The production is particularly interesting in introducing two endings, one happy and one tragic, and both are done wonderfully. The happy ending sparkles and the tragic one is very moving and nuanced.
On a visual front, the production is beautiful to look at. The costumes and sets are traditional, and the detail is very sumptuous. The video directing is straightforward and unobtrusive, rather than static and distracting, the former of which is always going to be preferred in my book. Musically, there is nothing to fault. The orchestral playing is controlled and stylish, and the conducting while unfolding at a pace that fits the story is never laborious.
Bernadette Manca Di Nissa apart from the odd moment of generic acting is brilliant as Tancredi, it is a very authoritative and moving performance with commanding nuances also. And vocally she is even better, the voice is both beautiful and flexible, ideal traits for singing Rossini, and she sings Di Tanti Palpiti thrillingly. The Amenaide of Maria Bayo is equally superb, the role is nowhere near as interesting but Bayo succeeds in making it so. She sings sweetly and musically and her acting shows a lot of intelligence. Kataryna Bak is not quite on the same level but still makes her mark.
Ildebrando D'Arcangelo impresses also, he is very young and handsome here and is still as vocally sonorous and exciting as he is today. Raul Gimenez sings with effortless ease, and unlike the stolid tenors I see a lot in Rossini he is at least believable.
All in all, a treasure of a Tancredi. 10/10 Bethany Cox
On a visual front, the production is beautiful to look at. The costumes and sets are traditional, and the detail is very sumptuous. The video directing is straightforward and unobtrusive, rather than static and distracting, the former of which is always going to be preferred in my book. Musically, there is nothing to fault. The orchestral playing is controlled and stylish, and the conducting while unfolding at a pace that fits the story is never laborious.
Bernadette Manca Di Nissa apart from the odd moment of generic acting is brilliant as Tancredi, it is a very authoritative and moving performance with commanding nuances also. And vocally she is even better, the voice is both beautiful and flexible, ideal traits for singing Rossini, and she sings Di Tanti Palpiti thrillingly. The Amenaide of Maria Bayo is equally superb, the role is nowhere near as interesting but Bayo succeeds in making it so. She sings sweetly and musically and her acting shows a lot of intelligence. Kataryna Bak is not quite on the same level but still makes her mark.
Ildebrando D'Arcangelo impresses also, he is very young and handsome here and is still as vocally sonorous and exciting as he is today. Raul Gimenez sings with effortless ease, and unlike the stolid tenors I see a lot in Rossini he is at least believable.
All in all, a treasure of a Tancredi. 10/10 Bethany Cox
