La Rondine

Puccini's uncharacteristic 1917 opera was initially conceived as a Straussian-style operetta for Vienna, but the intervention of World War I led the composer to rework it into a more typically Italianate form. But the transformation wasn't entirely successful, and La Rondine soon fell into a relative obscurity that is only now changing with revivals such as this 2015 production from the Deutsche Oper Berlin. The plot is basically La Traviata without the elder Germont: courtesan Magda throws over her wealthy lover Rambaldo for naïve young Ruggero, but she ultimately leaves him—either to die or resume her former life, depending on the version being followed—because she fears that her checkered past will doom their relationship. Singer-turned-director Rolando Villazón brings some fresh ideas to the staging, but they are not always good: he moves the action from the 1850s to the 1920s, allowing some flapper girls to shake things up in the second act restaurant scene, and has a trio of masked men in cream-colored suits perpetually surrounding Magda, representing the men in her past. Still, this is a more than serviceable mounting, with attractive sets and costumes. The company orchestra and chorus perform well for Roberto Rizzi Brignoli, and the vocalism is strong, with Dinara Alieva a lovely, sweet-sounding Magda and Charles Castronovo an ardent Ruggero. La Rondine is hardly top-drawer Puccini, but it deserves a listen, and this release is at least on par with earlier Italian stagings from Venice (VL-1/09) and Torre del Lago (VL-9/09). Presented in DTS 5.0 (DTS-HD 5.0 on the Blu-ray release) and PCM stereo, this is recommended. (F. Swietek)