Monteverdi - Il Ritorno d'Ulisse In Patria / Kasarova, Henschel, Kaufmann, Hartelius, Rey, Jankova, Zysset, Mayr, Kallisch, Harnoncourt, Zurich Opera

Rating:
Summary: A Good Renaissance Opera Production
Review: This is a good solid production of the story of Ulysses return home as stated in the last half of the Odyssey. The orchestra is more or less in the period style as directed by Nicholas Harnoncourt at the Zurich Opera house. Staging is good and the singing is particularly accurate. The cast, led by Vesselina Kasarova (sp?) is uniformly good though with a bit more vibrato than I would like. Some of the intonation is extremely well done and so subtle that it makes you think about Monteverdi's harmonic intentions. While this is not to me an exciting or new story, the plot is easy to follow in spite of the occasional divine interventions and the acting stylized but appropriate. If you have seen the English video of this opera, you will be amazed at how good this production is. I highly recommend this production and only give less than maximum stars because the story and renaissance musical and operatic style will not be to everyone's taste. There is no doubt that this is a first rate production.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Renaissance Opera Production
Review: This is a good solid production of the story of Ulysses return home as stated in the last half of the Odyssey. The orchestra is more or less in the period style as directed by Nicholas Harnoncourt at the Zurich Opera house. Staging is good and the singing is particularly accurate. The cast, led by Vesselina Kasarova (sp?) is uniformly good though with a bit more vibrato than I would like. Some of the intonation is extremely well done and so subtle that it makes you think about Monteverdi's harmonic intentions. While this is not to me an exciting or new story, the plot is easy to follow in spite of the occasional divine interventions and the acting stylized but appropriate. If you have seen the English video of this opera, you will be amazed at how good this production is. I highly recommend this production and only give less than maximum stars because the story and renaissance musical and operatic style will not be to everyone's taste. There is no doubt that this is a first rate production.