No opera production was awaited with such high expectations and surrounded by so much commentary as Verdi's "La forza del destino" on the programme of the Royal Opera House in London, where the opera had not been performed since 2004.
This was not due to the production by Christof Loy, whose style is well known in London and who had already presented his interpretation of the Verdi opera in Amsterdam in 2017, but because of the cast that united Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tézier, albeit not in all ten performances of the series. Three great names but also and especially three artists who know how to sing Verdi and who possess the necessary vocal material and master the right style to do justice to this impressive and demanding, dramatic and colourful score, excellently accompanied and supported by the outstanding orchestra of the Royal Opera conducted by music director Antonio Pappano.
As is his custom, Christof Loy combined different periods in his production, which does more than tell the story. During the overture, he presents short scenes in which we see Leonora and Carlo as children with their strict father and already sketches their personality and rather unfriendly relations. There is one set (Christian Schmidt) for the entire opera: a large, white room that is dismantled according to the demands and circumstances of the successive acts and scenes. The costumes characterize the characters more than the periods, culminating in the scene at the battlefield where Preziosilla gathers a motley crowd around her and stirs them up in a carnival atmosphere that culminates in a "Rataplan" chorus without military threat.
A big bravo for the choirs who commit themselves fully vocally and dramatically in all scenes, well directed by Christof Loy, who has also succeeded in giving the protagonists a convincing profile. This of course thanks to their individual commitment and their delightful vocal performance.
Anna Netrebko, making her debut in the role of Leonora, gave her ample, velvety soprano, homogeneous throughout the tessitura and so well controlled, and her expressive interpretation full of nuances and touching pianissimi. And all this with remarkable text projection. The ovation the audience gave her for her interpretation of "Pace, pace" in the final act was more than deserved.
Jonas Kaufmann's Alvaro combined passion with distrust, despair with resignation, and sang his demanding part with an ample, free, powerfully radiant tenor and genuine "italianita" in a vibrating, engaged interpretation that also allowed room for touching subtleties in mezza voce.
In Ludovic Tézier, who gave profile to Carlo, the relentless brother of Leonora bent on revenge, Jonas Kaufmann had an opponent of equal standing who gave him equal reply in their various remarkable duets. Tézier is moreover a true Verdi baritone who shone in his great scene "Urna fatale", a memorable moment.
A fine performance was also delivered by Veronica Simeoni with a fairly bright mezzo-soprano voice in a rather unexpected (but desired by the production) interpretation of Preziosilla, which also demanded considerable dancing talent from her. Ferruccio Furlanetto gave authority and humanity to Padre Guardiano with a sonorous bass voice, and Alessandro Corbelli delivered a delightful Melitone with crumbly baritone. Carlo Bosi was perfect as Trabucco, as was Roberta Alexander (Curra) and Michael Mofidian (Alcalde), but Robert Lloyd (Marquis of Calatrava) has scarcely any voice left. The choirs performed excellently. Antonio Pappano knew how to build a fine tension with the orchestra and maintain it throughout the entire evening, four hours long in a remarkable symbiosis between orchestra and stage. A very great evening!
- WHAT: La Forza Del Destino, Verdi
- WHO: Christof Loy, Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Ludovic Tézier, Antonio Pappano, Christian Schmidt, Veronica Simeoni, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Alessandro Corbelli, Carlo Bosi, Roberta Alexander, Michael Mofidian, Robert Lloyd
- WHERE: Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London
- PHOTOS: The Royal Opera © 2019 ROH. Photograph by Bill Cooper©
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