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Published on 5/20/08
Video
Metropolitan Opera; Mon 17–Apr 10
Giuseppe Verdi was not the first composer to grapple with the titanic passions found in Victor Hugo’s Hernani, an 1830 play that deliberately shattered the constraints of classical French theater: Bellini, for one, abandoned his attempted setting. But Verdi’s 1844 version for Venice eclipsed all possible rivals with its strongly drawn protagonists and staggering melodic invention. His opera conquered the world, reaching distant New York by 1847.
Ernani demands a quartet of great Verdians; names like Carlo Bergonzi, Rosa Ponselle, Leonard Warren and Ezio Pinza adorn its history at the Met. After an absence of 23 years it returns with four remarkable contenders under Roberto Abbado’s baton. Marcello Giordani is having a banner New York year; Ernani marks the dynamic Sicilian tenor’s fifth role (and third new one) at the Met this season. Sondra Radvanovsky has rocked the world’s stages in similar Verdi scores such as Il Trovatore and I vespri siciliani; her initial Ernani last fall in Trieste, Italy, won raves.
Alongside Radvanovsky then and now: bass Ferruccio Furlanetto, one of the last remaining exponents of truly grand-scale Italian opera, and a consummate vocalist and first-class actor whose presence guarantees an event. After Simon Boccanegra last season, Thomas Hampson pushes further into the realm of big-format Verdi baritones. His character, King Charles V, must command bel canto elegance as well. Verdi’s score is liberally adorned with great tunes—expect a vocal field day.
—David Shengold
Carla
Wed, Apr 09, at 10:23am
Sondra Radvanovsky has a voice which echoes the great ones of the past - listen to Rosa Ponselle on recordings - then listen to Radvanovsky - you will not be disappointed ! The voice fills the hall, is used with great artistry, has fullness and timbre like no other. Heard from the Family Circle at the Met it is wonderfully vibrant .
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