May 11, 2002: Il Trovatore in London

2002-05-11 Il Trovatore (G. Verdi), Royal Opera House (London)

Ferrando = Tomas Tómasson
Leonora = Verónica Villarroel
Ines = Gweneth-Ann Jeffers
Count di Luna = Vladimir Chernov
Manrico = José Cura
Azucena = Yvonne Naef
Old gypsy = Thomas Barnard
Messenger = Douglas Telfer
Ruiz = Edgaras Montvidas

Carlo Rizzi, conductor




Il Trovatore, Royal Opera House
May 11, 2002 Matinee

I met some members of the JCx and I promised to join this club. I loved Veronica Villarroel as Leonora and Vladimir Chernov as Count di Luna. I did not like to the same extent Yvonne Naef as Azucena and Jose Cura as Manrico, but I don't blame Naef or Cura for that I blame the director (Moshinsky who I have always liked, but this time). I was not overly enthusiastic about the scenography either, even though it was a traditional one. It was a conventional and thought-through production, that was somehow lacking in soul. One of the disappointment of the evening was "Di quella pira", and I am not thinking about any top C's that might or might not be missing ('cause I wouldn't know that), I just felt it was not as exciting as that aria is supposed to be. I was left cold. "Ah si, ben mio" was sung truly beautifully and deserved it applause. After Di Quella Pira, the audience was applauding, but not so much for the aria, but for the whole scene that was also a triumph for Veronica Villarroel.

This Leonora, Veronica Villlarroel, was an absolute joy to see and listen to. A breath-taking "Tacea la notte placida", and among other a wonderful Leonora in scene from the tower, like "Tu vedrai che amore in terra" and the duet with Vladimir Chernov/di Luna. And naturally in the end of the opera. Everywhere Veronica Villarroel was, was the high class of singing and acting. Conte di Luna = Vladimir Chernov had power and class in his singing and in acting, too. With all that inside, one longed for him singing a positive role, for once. And he was so nice afterwards at the stage door. Veronica Villarroel and Yvonne Naef was also nice, and had Jose Cura had more time (he had other engagements that evening), but he was still gorgeous and polite.

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
COVENT GARDEN
presents
The Royal Opera
Music Director Bernard Haitink KBE
Director of Opera Elaine Padmore
IL TROVATORE
Dramma in two acts
Music Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto Salvadore Cammarano
after Antonio Garcia Gutierrez's play
EL trovador
Conductor Carlo Rizzi
Director Elijah Moshinsky
Sets Dante Ferretti
Costumes Anne Tilby
Lighting Howard Harrison
Fight Arranger William Hobbs
The Royal Opera Chorus Chorus Director Terry Edwards
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Concert Master Vasko Vassilev
Saturday 11 May 2002 The 303rd performance at the Royal Opera House
Co-production with Teatro Real, Madrid

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