Joyce DiDonato triumphs for a second time in the trousers role of Romeo in Vincenzo Bellini's 1830 opera based not on Shakespeare's tragedy of doomed young love, but on earlier Italian sources. The superstar American soprano was the glory of the earlier 2014 production from San Francisco (VL-1/15), and she is equally impressive in this 2015 mounting by the Zürich Opera, accompanied by a strong Giulietta (Olga Kulchynska). Christof Loy's staging wittily treats the story in the style of The Godfather: the Capulets, mostly costumed in dark suits, look like a gathering of Mafiosi, with their leader Capellio (Alexei Botnarciuc) made up to resemble Marlon Brando's Don Corleone. There are some unconvincing touches: a younger version of Giulietta appears at the beginning and close, apparently to emphasize how her psyche was formed by growing up in such a bloodthirsty family, and the lovers are shadowed by a silent spectral figure (Gieorgij Puchalski) who seems to represent approaching death. But these quirks do not seriously undermine what is overall a fine presentation of an undervalued opera. Conductor Fabio Luisi treats the score with passion and sensitivity, and both the chorus and the supporting singers (Botnarciuc; Roberto Lorenzi as Lorenzo, the Capulet family doctor who administers the sleeping potion to Giulietta; and Benjamin Bernheim as Tebaldo, to whom Giuletta is betrothed) provide stirring vocalism. Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, this offers viewers another chance to enjoy DiDonato in what is becoming a signature role for her. Recommended. (F. Swietek)
I Capuleti e I Montecchi
(2015) 139 min. DVD: $24.99, Blu-ray: $39.99. Accentus Music (avail. from most distributors). Volume 32, Issue 1
I Capuleti e I Montecchi
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