WGBH Radio WGBH Radio theclassicalstation.org

Puccini: La Fanciulla Del West / Rizzi, Westbroek, Todorovich, Gallo, Netherlands Opera

Puccini / Chorus Of De Nederlandse Opera / Rizzi
Release Date: 11/16/2010 
Label:  Opus Arte   Catalog #: 1039  
Composer:  Giacomo Puccini
Performer:  André Morsch,  Roman Sadnik,  Eva-Maria Westbroek,  Zoran Todorovic,   ... 
Conductor:  Carlo Rizzi
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Netherlands Opera Chorus,  Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
Number of Discs: 1 
In Stock: Usually ships in 24 hours.  
On sale! $33.98
DVD: $29.99
In Stock
BUY 
On sale!   $33.98   DVD:  $29.99 Add to Cart

WISH LIST




Be the first to review this title


Notes and Editorial Reviews

Also available on Blu-ray

"From her first entrance ... Westbroek is captivating. She boasts the wonderfully meaty instrument required for Minnie (especially in the all-important middle voice), plus the right wholesome, strawberry-blonde appearance.... This endearing portrayal will surely take its place in the great line of sopranos who have excelled as Minnie.... Carlo Rizzi leads a highly passionate reading.” – International Record Review

"The Dutch dramatic soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek shines as Minnie, a many-faceted role in which the character develops from a school marm who gives her admiring miners a Bible lesson, to impassioned lover Read more and, finally, to savior of the man she loves.... [T]he score is interesting both for its modernity and for its structure.... The richness of its orchestration comes through here in Carlo Rizzi’s reading." - The New York Times [12/8/09], reviewing the live performance

"Eva-Maria Westbroek, local girl made good, made a heart-warming Minnie ... Zoran Todorovich was superb as Dick Johnson, playing her rough-diamond Mexican lover to the life and singing with exciting panache and decibels to spare. ... With the conductor, Carlo Rizzi, keeping a tight rein on the music and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra playing well for him, this was a high-powered show throughout. Traditional productions of Puccini’s Wild West opera will always be best, but this one is undeniably good fun. ****" – Financial Times, reviewing the live performance

-----

Minnie – Eva-Maria Westbroek
Jack Rance – Lucio Gallo
Dick Johnson – Zoran Todorovich
Nick – Roman Sadnik
Ashby – Diogenes Randes
Sonora – Stephen Gadd
Billy Jackrabbit – Tijl Faveyts
Wowkle – Ellen Rabiner
Jake Wallace – André Morsch
José Castro – Roger Smeets

Netherlands Opera Chorus
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
Carlo Rizzi, conductor

Nikolaus Lehnhoff, stage director

Recorded live at The Amsterdam Music Theater, November and December 2009.

Nikolaus Lehnhoff’s Hollywood-style production updates this Wild West story to the capitalist culture of Wall Street, perfectly reflecting Puccini’s innovatory spirit. In a new angle on the age-old love triangle theme, corrupt Sheriff Jack Rance (Lucio Gallo) and charismatic criminal Dick Johnson (Zoran Todorovich) vie for the love of glamorous blonde and devout Christian Minnie (Eva-Maria Westbroek), finding her way in a man’s world. Carlo Rizzi’s idiomatic conducting draws excellent singing from the large cast and fine playing from The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.

Filmed in High Definition and recorded in true surround sound.

Bonus:
- Cast gallery
- Documentary on Eva-Maria Westbroek

Picture format: NTSC 16:9 anamorphic
Sound format: LPCM Stereo 2.0 / DTS 5.1
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Menu language: English
Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch
Running time: 160 mins
No. of DVDs: 1
Read less

Works on This Recording

1. La Fanciulla del West by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:  André Morsch (Baritone), Roman Sadnik (Tenor), Eva-Maria Westbroek (Soprano),
Zoran Todorovic (Tenor), Lucio Gallo (Baritone), Stephen Gadd (Baritone),
Diogenes Randes (Voice), Tijl Faveyts (Voice), Ellen Rabiner (Alto),
Roger Smeets (Baritone)
Conductor:  Carlo Rizzi
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Netherlands Opera Chorus,  Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1910; Italy 

Customer Reviews

Be the first to review this title
Review This Title
Review This Title Share on Facebook