Rossini: La Pietra Del Paragone

"Of the many joys that this new DVD from Opus Arte has to offer, the greatest is without question the opportunity to hear this marvellous score in all its glory. Maestro Albert Zedda is perhaps the greatest Rossini conductor of our times...The playing of the Orchestra of the Teatro Real, Madrid, on this DVD is nothing short of sensational - strings light but vigorous, woodwind prominent, brass precise. The tempos are all immaculately judged and Zedda's ability to hold together a large cast of soloists and chorus through some difficult concertati is breathtaking. Wonderful though Pier Luigi Pizzi's production is, it's Zedda who makes this amongst the three or four most absorbing and entertaining Rossini performances in my DVD collection.

What a production it is, though. I can't recall any opera DVD causing me to laugh out loud quite so uncontrollably as this one did - in fact, it gets more amusing as the production advances... Pizzi's production [presents] the drama realistically in the 1970s, in a large chic villa on two floors, complete with swimming pool and outdoor furniture. Grassy platforms on either side of the orchestra pit facilitate a tennis match; maids change the sheets on the beds; Fulvia paints a portrait; Asdrubale and Clarice communicate with each other via telephones; characters jump in and out of the swimming pool. It's all tremendous fun. But more than that, just as Rossini was able to flesh out the characters thanks to an outstanding cast in 1812, so too does Pizzi draw enormously emotional performances from several cast members."

-- Dominic McHugh, MusicalCriticism.com [11/1/2007]

----------------

Gioachino Rossini
LA PIETRA DEL PARAGONE

Baronessa Aspasia – Laura Brioli
Marchesa Clarice – Marie-Ange Todorovich
Cavalier Giocondo – Raúl Giménez
Count Asdrubale – Marco Vinco
Pacuvio – Paolo Bordogna
Macrobio – Pietro Spagnoli

Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real (Madrid Symphony Orchestra and Chorus)
Alberto Zedda, conductor

Pier Luigi Pizzi, stage director

Recorded live at the Teatro Real, Madrid, 11 and 13 April 2007.

Bonus features:
- Interviews with Alberto Zedda and Pier Luigi Pizzi
- Illustrated synopsis and cast gallery

Picture format: NTSC 16:9 anamorphic
Sound format: LPCM Stereo / DTS Surround 5.1
Region code: 0 (All Regions)
Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian
Menu languages: English
Running time: 187 mins
No. of DVDs: 2