The first of Gaetano Donizetti’s quartet of operas about Tudor England was a failure at its 1829 premiere, and while the later three (Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, and Roberto Devereux) have retained a place in the international repertory, Il Castello di Kenilworth has largely faded from view. This rare 2018 revival at the Donizetti Festival in Bergamo (the composer’s birthplace) shows it to be a mature work (though only in his early 30s, Donizetti had already written more than 20 operas) that is well worth discovering. This production follows the original score, rather than the composer’s 1836 revision, although it does not use the 1829 title—Elisabetta al castello di Kenilworth, which points to the centrality of Queen Elizabeth I, who also appears in Maria and Roberto. Here, Elizabeth visits the castle of her favorite Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, who has secretly wed Amelia Robsart. Dudley enlists his stable master Warney, who also loves Amelia, to hide his wife while the queen is present, but Warney attempts to abduct her, and she escapes and encounters Elisabeth, who is furious with Leicester before ultimately forgiving the couple and punishing Warney. This is a powerful production, with soprano Jessica Pratt a commanding Elizabeth, and Xabier Anduaga (Dudley), Carmela Remigio (Amelia), and Stefan Pop (Warney) providing strong support, while Riccardo Frizza leads the chorus and the Donizetti Opera Orchestra in a vividly dramatic reading of the score. The only drawback is Angelo Sala’s bland set, although Ursula Patzak’s excellent costumes offer visual compensation. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, this is recommended. (F. Swietek)
Il Castello di Kenilworth
(2018) 139 min. In Italian w/English subtitles. DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $39.99. Dynamic (dist. by Naxos of America). Volume 34, Issue 5
Il Castello di Kenilworth
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