Rossini - Le comte Ory (Andrew Davis) [2005]

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Rossini - Le comte Ory (Andrew Davis) [2005]

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Rossini composed the opéra comique Le Comte Ory in 1828 for the Opera of Paris. Eugène Scribe and Charles-Gaspard Delestre-Poirson wrote the French libretto. Part of the music Rossini borrowed from his opera Il viaggio a Reims. In fact, only one of the scenes from Act One is from completely newly composed music - all the rest is either adapted, or simply put to new words.

The new DVD is from a 1997 production of the Glyndebourn Festival. This is absolutely a charming production, a joy to look at visually. The first act settings looks like drawings taken from some children books. The costumes are colorful and beautiful. The second act happens in a large room in countess Adele house. Well designed, and the rain going on the other side of the widow is so realistic. The entire cast act impressively and there is much humor and fun with many brilliant ideas in the director work. Andrew Davis is conducting The London Philharmonic and everything moves well with energy and drive. The music is absolutely charming and bubbles like champagne.

As for the singers: most impressive of all is the French soprano Annick Massis. This lady is AMAZING!!! : A beautiful soprano, not even a pinch of shrillness, excellent technique and brilliant coloratura. In the first act, she finishes her aria with a long sustained note and then faints. I almost fainted too… The other women in the cast are excellent too. Isolier is sung by mezzo-soprano Diana Montague. She is a well-known singer from numerous recordings, and she is charming both in singing and acting. So is the other mezzo, Jane Shaulis as the countess companion Ragonde…

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Rossini - Le comte Ory (Andrew Davis) [2005]

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