OperaRoma.tv have generously shared this superb production with audiences worldwide online, and I have finally found the time to sit down and enjoy it.
Filmed in 2013, the opera is staged at Rome's Opera House, under the musical direction of maestro Riccardo Muti, and directed by Hugo De Ana. This is a hugely traditional production in every sense, but its insistence on upholding the operatic traditions has utterly and completely paid off. The set looked magnificent and imposing, looming over the cast like some great grey behemoth of impending doom. The music and mise-en-scene were beautifully interpreted and the time and effort put into bringing this truthful and meaningful production the the stage was an immense undertaking, but paid dividends a thousandfold. Chorus pictures, detailed costumes, immaculate characterisations all beautifully realised. I could go on with superlative after superlative, but will stop now before it becomes too gushing.
My one disappointment in the entire 140 minutes of this opera, was that having 4 acts, I would have preferred more of a set change for each. The set remained more or less the same for each act, and visually I would have preferred more. However this did make me focus more on the costumes (excellent and authentic), and the acting / singing of the cast; which was in one word, divine. The whole cast, both principals and ensemble were controlled, poised, precise, eloquent, and powerfully emotive.
Librettist Francesco Piave based the story of Ernani on the 1830 play by Victor Hugo, Hernani. Perhaps operas most celebrated and loved composer, Giuseppe Verdi then set it to music, and the opera saw its first performance in March 1844, quickly becoming a firm favourite with audiences.
The story is set in Spain in 1519. The noble Don Juan de Aragon has lost his title and his wealth due to civil uprising, and so disguises himself as a peasant and calls himself Ernani, heading to the mountains and leading a rebel band of outlaws. He is madly in love with the beautiful (and rich) Elvira, and with his men he sets out to rescue her from a doomed and arranged marriage with her uncle, Don Guy Romez de Silva. Of course, that's how the opera starts, but since this is Grand Opera, then things don't go according to plan and it doesn't end happily.
In this production the principal roles were sung by the incomparable Francesco Meli (Ernani), Luca Salsi (Don Carlo), Don Guy de Silva (Idar Abdrazakov), Elvira (Tatijana Sejan), Giovanna (Simge Buyukedes), with the orchestra and chorus of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma in a co-production with Sydney Opera House.
If you like your opera performed as the composers intended them to be, you simply could not wish for a better production than this.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 10/10/20
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