Wednesday 9 May 2007

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

Day 4: Tuesday 2007-05-08 London
From London to Exeter with National Express coach 1030-1530


Stiffelio
The Royal Opera 2006/7


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

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*

§ 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 perfomance, May 10th, this was it. The BEST. Here I was overwhelmed, Jose Cura etc was great. This was not the same perfomance, the acting was quite different. Sondra was better,but the lack of proper prononciation 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 sur-titles 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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