Standing ovations for Vienna's first-ever 'Anna Bolena'

Conta a France Press e, sinceramente não me espanta nada que:
"The first-ever staging in Vienna of Gaetano Donizetti's rarely-performed opera "Anna Bolena" received 20 minutes of standing ovations at its star-studded premiere at the Vienna State Opera Saturday.



Russian superstar soprano Anna Netrebko dazzled the first-night audience in the extremely demanding title role of Henry VIII's wife -- the second of his six wives, who was beheaded after a short three-year marriage for allegedly being unfaithful to the king with her former lover Lord Richard Percy.



Netrebko, whose voice has become infinitely more voluptuous and richer in the past few years, is not naturally suited to the belcanto repertoire. In fact, she was making her role debut as Anna Bolena. Nevertheless, she was completely convincing as the unjustly accused queen, veering between indignant fury and tender righteousness.



And she more met her match in Jane Seymour, sung by Latvian mezzo Elina Garanca in stunning form.



Indeed, while the infinitely elegant staging by Frenchman Eric Genovese -- which had more than a touch of the Old Masters thanks to sumptuous period costumes by Luisa Spinatelli and imposing sets by Jacques Gabel and Claire Sternberg -- never seemed to provide much more than an achingly beautiful backdrop, the excellent cast sang with such seering conviction that one hardly noticed the minimalism of Genovese's direction.



Austrian mezzo Elisabeth Kulman, in the trouser role of the love-sick Smeton, has a smoky, almost husky timbre but still managed to navigate the difficult coloratura with skill and aplomb.



Italian bass-baritone Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, who had cancelled due to sickness a few days before the premiere, but decided to sing after all, sounded somewhat pale to start with, but soon found his form.



The young Italian tenor Francesco Meli sang the demanding role of Lord Percy with a youthful virility that promises great things for the future."

Já tive o inavaliável prazer de as ver e ouvir juntas, em Covent Garden na ROH, no I Capuleti e i Montecchi e, por isso, presumo que se tivesse ido até Viena no sábado a tal "standing ovation" teria sido ainda maior :)