Verdi's 1855 opera began life as Les Vêpres Siciliennes—a grand piece in the French style, which included a ballet sequence—but while the original version is occasionally performed (VL-3/12), most productions are based on the 1861 revision that translates the text—about a son torn between his father (the despised French ruler of 13th-century Sicily) and the vengeful Sicilian duchess he loves—into Italian and jettisons the dance music. Such is the case in this 2010 staging from the Teatro Regio di Parma, the 19th volume in the Tutto Verdi series, offering a solid but not outstanding rendition. The company orchestra and chorus do excellent work under Massimo Zanetti, but the direction by Pier Luigi Pizzi relies overmuch on the hackneyed approach of having the choristers traipse about the theater aisles or along the wings as they sing (and while the costumes are opulent, the backgrounds are meager). The vocalism is also a mixed bag. Fabio Armiliato, as the conflicted Arrigo, and Daniela Dessì, as the revenge-seeking Elena, make a herculean effort to cope with the score's demands but occasionally seem pressed. On the lower end of the tonal spectrum, Leo Nucci is a commanding tyrant, while Giacomo Prestia is sonorous—if wobbly—as Procida, a Sicilian patriot who urges revolution. Presented in DTS 5.1 (DTS-HD 5.1 on the Blu-ray release) and PCM stereo, extras include an introduction to the opera. While not top-drawer Verdi, the work's strengths are brought out reasonably well here, making this a strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)
I Vespri Siciliani
(2010) 170 min. In Italian w/English subtitles. DVD: 2 discs, $39.99; Blu-ray: $39.99. Unitel Classica (dist. by Naxos of America). Volume 28, Issue 4
I Vespri Siciliani
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