When the
famous La Scala opera houser from Milan comes to Finland for the first time, it
is such an occasion that the Savonlinna Opera Festival had no difficulties to
sell out the tickets. But even full house could not cover all the expenses, so
great thanks to the sponsors, who made this visit possible. La Scala brought to
Savonlinna one of the less known Verdi operas ”I masnadier” (The Robbers). The
story of the opera is based on a much longer play, which may explain the
weaknesses of the libretto.
The opera
tells about the son Carlo of Count Massimiliano, who has become a robber and
left behind his betrothed Amalia. Carlo’s brother Francesco wants to become the
count and tells Massimiliano and Amalia that Carlo has died. Massimiliano faints and is presumed dead. Francesco imprisons him in a cave
and wants to marry Amalia, who runs to a forest. Carlo and Amalia meet in the
forest. Carlo also runs into Massimiliano, who doesn’t recognize him. The robbers attack Francesco’s castle. Francesco dies and the robbers imprison
Amalia, who swears to love Carlo despite his actions. But despite that, Carlo kills Amalia.
The
direction of the opera was – to be honest – terrible. People ran around the
stage and it was truly hard to believe that the main pair loved each other,
when they even during their love duets stood next to each other without
touching or even looking at each other. The story would have been far more believable,
if you had listened to it with your eyes closed.
Set desing
was rather simple, but so it often is in Olavinlinna, since it is a castle made
stone. I liked the costume design; it fit the opera well and the costumes of
the dances with their masks very really nice.
The music
of the opera was also beautiful, even if it does not contain such hit arias as the
best known Verdi operas. The conductor Michele Mariotti and the orchestra of La
Scala made the music shine and especially Lisette Oropesa, who sang the role of
Amalia, made a great impression with her singing. I also liked Michele Pertusi in the role of Massimiiano
and Massimo Cavalletti in the role of Francesco very much.
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