Donizetti - L'Elisir d'Amore / Esposito, Machado, Marrucci, Canzian, Schrott, Muus, Macerata Opera

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent interpretation of Donizetti
Review: I have seen other versions of L'elisir d'amore performances in DVD and find this particular version the most beautiful, perfect and magnificent performance of Donizetti.
The singers, soprano Esposito as the proud and indifferent but beautiful Adina, with her clear and sweet soprano voice is so enchanting and excellent, that we want to hear more of her. In this performance she is matched by tenor Machado, whose appearance is just the exact Nemorino and with his rich tenor voice make us enjoying more of the performance. There is also a most distinctive beautiful deep nuance baritone voice of Schrott performing perfectly as Doctor Dulcamara, all the combination of voices together adds to the perfection of the opera itself. This performance made Donizetti's beautiful vivacious and melodious music much more significant and enjoyable while the background and costumes represents the natural environment of a village.
I really enjoy this version compared to other versions of performances, eventhough all the performers are less wellknown.

Rating:
Summary: Avoid This Second-Rate Production
Review: It pains me to say that this DVD of a recent production of Donizetti's 'L'Elisir d'Amore,' done at the Sfisterio Arena in Macerata, Italy is bush-league. It is amazing that the recording of this open-air production is in as sharp sound and visuals as it is, but unfortunately the performance itself is hardly worth preserving. The orchestra is pretty good - it's the Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana - and the Danish conductor, Niels Muus, is quite good, marshalling his forces expertly. But the principal singers, with one possible exception, are not world-class. This is a provincial production and when compared with the DVDs now available with Pavarotti/Blegen/Rescigno (my favorite, by far) from the Met or Alagna/Gheorghiu/Pido from the Opera de Lyon (good but a bit underpowered) it simply comes up short--way short.

The production is also hampered by the visual production. It is fully acted but with minimal sets because it is mounted on an inappropriately arranged stage with the orchestra and conductor arrayed behind the singers. I can only imagine that there must have been a television monitor visible to the singers because they certainly couldn't see the conductor without turning their backs to the audience.

The Venezuelan tenor, Aquiles Machado, has a serviceable tenorino voice and his, erm, generous physique is certainly no less inappropriate than that of Luciano Pavarotti in his Met portrayal. His acting, however, is wooden. The only vocal star here is the Dulcamara of Erwin Schrott. I won't even mention the names of the dismal Adina and Belcore; the less said the better.

It might have been fun to spend a pleasant summer evening in an outdoor arena near the Adriatic Coast and take in a provincial performance of 'L'Elisir,' but I don't think anyone would want to repeat the experience in their living room sans the Italian coast's 'soave zeffiretto.'

In a word, I cannot see why anyone would invest in this DVD unless their sister was in the (very good) chorus.

Scott Morrison