THE PURITANS
Teatro Real Madrid is
having guest performances at the Savonlinna Opera Festival of The Puritans by
Vicenzo Bellini. The Puritans is the last of Bellini’s operas (first night in
1835) and it is widely considered to be the jewel of bel canto. When this kind
of opera is performed in a place like Olavinlinna castle, you can expect a
great experience. The story is truly rubbish (lovers from two different camps,
jealousy, insanity and finally happy end) and the libretto is extremely naïve blabbering,
but the music is fantastic.
Teatro Real Madrid has
brought to Savonlinna two sets of soloists. The Puritans are usually performed
rather seldom, since the music is very challenging to sing and singers who are
able to sing the roles cannot be found in every opera house, but the soloists
that I saw did extremely well.
The chorus scene in
the beginning of the opera was already impressive, but when the soloists
appeared, the night got even better. Maria José Moreno in the role of Elvira
has an absolutely beautiful coloratura voice that is at the same time so strong
that if need be, she has no difficulties to be heard over the chorus and
orchestra. She was also able to express very nicely the insanity scenes of
Elvira with small gestures and her body language.
But an even more
incredible performance gave Francesco Demuro in the role of Arturo. He was able
to without any difficulties to sing even the highest notes of the role, which
are a lot higher than the usual tenor arias. The wild applause of the audience
in the end of the opera was well deserved.
What was great about
the evening was that the opera did not rely solely on the performance of the
main couple and a few arias, but great scenes followed one another all the time;
e.g. Sir Giorgio’s (Fernando Radó) and Sir Riccardo’s (Massimo Cavalletini)
duet “Suoni la tromba” was stunning.
So, if you ever have a chance to see somewhere singers
of Teatro Real Madrid performing The Puritans, go and see it!  |
| Olavinlinna |
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| The performers |
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