May 8, 2007: Stiffelio in London

2007-05-08 Stiffelio (Verdi), Royal Opera House

Stiffelio = José Cura
Lina = Sondra Radvanovsky
Stankar = Roberto Frontali
Raffaele von Leuthold =
Reinaldo Macias
Jorg = Alastair Miles
Federico di Frengel = Nikola Matišic
Dorotea = Liora Grodnikaite

Mark Elder, conductor



Stiffelio
The Royal Opera 2006/7


* 20 Apr 07, 7.30 PM
* 23 Apr 07, 7.30 PM
* 02 May 07, 7.30 PM
* 05 May 07, 7.00 PM
* 08 May 07, 7.30 PM
* 10 May 07, 7.30 PM


Background

Director: Elijah Moshinsky
Set designs: Michael Yeargan
Costume designs: Peter J. Hall
Lighting: Paul Pyant
Fight Director: William Hobbs


Federico di Frengel: Nikola Matišic§
Dorotea: Liora Grodnikaite*

§ Jette Parker Young Artist
*Jette Parker Principal

Fourth came May 8th, Stiffelio in London with Jose Cura as Stiffelio. As asked previously, why 3 times Stiffelio, the answer is to get the BEST performance. And as being before the last performance, May 10th, this was it. The BEST. Here I was overwhelmed, Jose Cura etc was great. This was not the same performance, the acting was quite different. Sondra was better,but the lack of proper pronunciation was turning me off. I have never heard a singer not being able to sing MADRE, with all the letters, Sondra sang ..ADRE. Of course we have subtitles now, so we can read it in English was she was singing. But really When you know the text as I do, it is terrible not be able to hear a professional opera singer sing the words.I am not talking about the high notes, as I understand that might be asking too much. But, oh, dear Sondra, please be better in the future.

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Blog Post: May 2007: Stiffelio in London (2007-05-08)