Francesca da Rimini

Paolo and Francesca, the star-crossed adulterous lovers made infamous in Dante's Inferno, have been the subject of some 30 operas, the best-known being Riccardo Zandonai's 1914 Francesca da Rimini. While it's never achieved the status of repertory staple, Francesca da Rimini boasts a score in full-blooded verismo mode (although comparisons to Tristan und Isolde in an accompanying booklet here seem somewhat farfetched, even if the narrative does have a certain lurid, soap-operatic vigor). When nobleman Gianciotto sends his brother, Paolo, to fetch the former's betrothed, Francesca, the two immediately fall in love. After Malatestino—a malevolent third brother whom Francesca has rejected—finds out about the affair and reveals it to Gianciotto, all ends badly. This performance was taped at the 2004 Sferisterio Opera Festival in Macerata, Italy, which was held in the kind of large outdoor arena that is usually inhospitable to opera. In this case, however, director-designer Massimo Gasparon employs the space skillfully, creating a single, multi-tiered set that admirably focuses the action, while the eye-catching costumes blend in well. Musically, conductor Maurizio Barbacini draws impassioned playing from the orchestra, while Daniela Dessi and Fabio Armiliato are impressive as the doomed lovers. Featuring fluid camerawork and fine sound (with DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, and PCM stereo options), this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)