Nicola Vaccaj (1790-1848) was a second-tier composer of the bel canto era whose name and works are almost completely forgotten today. This rare 2018 production of his most successful opera—an 1825 version of the familiar tragedy of Romeo and Juliet—shows that while not the equal of his dominant contemporary Rossini (whose style he obviously emulated), or of Donizetti or Bellini, Vaccaj was still a skilled craftsman whose music is highly effective without being particularly distinctive. In this mounting from the Festival della Valle d’Itria in Martina Franca, Cecilia Ligorio’s staging makes a compelling case for the work. Sesto Quatrini draws rich, expressive playing from the Orchestra Accademia of the Teatro alla Scala, and the singing of Leonor Bonilla and Raffaela Lupinacci, as Giulietta and Romeo, is outstanding (with minor exceptions, the vocalism of the secondary soloists is also strong). Alessia Colosso’s imposingly tall set serves as both the balcony of Juliet’s room in the first act and a burial ground in the second, while Luciano Novelli’s lighting design is properly moody, and Giuseppe Palella’s striking black-and-white costumes clearly distinguish between Capuleti and Montecchi. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include a brief interview with Ligorio. A fine staging of an unjustly neglected opera from the period of "beautiful singing," this is highly recommended for those willing to venture beyond the standard repertory. (F. Swietek)
Giulietta e Romeo
(2018) 161 min. In Italian w/English subtitles. DVD: 2 discs, $34.99; Blu-ray: $39.99. Dynamic (dist. by Naxos of America). Volume 34, Issue 5
Giulietta e Romeo
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