L'Elisir d'Amore, Opera Bastille, Paris 15. Oct 2009

After the stunning premiere on 10. October 2009, yesterday it was the second Anna Netrebko's performance of Donizetti's "l'Elisir d'Amore" at Opera Bastille, Paris, starring Anna Netrebko as Adina, Charles Castronovo, replacing Giuseppe Filianoti who was ill, as Nemorino, George Petean as Belcore, Paolo Gavanelli as Dulcamara and Jaël Azzaretti as Gianetta. Paolo Arrivabeni was conducting the Orchetra and Chorus of the Opera National de Paris. This is a coproduction with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, staged by Laurent Pelly.

Two more performances with Anna Netrebko are scheduled on 20. and 23. October 2009.

L'Elisir d'Amore
Melodramma Giocoso in 2 Acts (1832)
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Felice Romani after that of Eugène Scribe for Daniel Auber's Le Philtre

Opera Bastille, Paris 15. October 2009

Cast
Adina: Anna Netrebko
Nemorino: Charles Castronovo
Belcore: George Petean
Il Dottor Dulcamara: Paolo Gavanelli
Giannetta: Jaël Azzaretti

Production
Musical Director: Paolo Arrivabeni
Stage Director and Costumes: Laurent Pelly
Sets: Chantal Thomas
Lighting: Joël Adam
Dramaturgy and collaboration with the Stage Director: Agathe Mélinand
Chorus Master: Alessandro Di Stefano

Orchestre et Choeur de l’Opéra National de Paris
Coproduction of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London

About the Opera
L'Elisir d'Amore in Wikipedia [English]
L'Elisir d'Amore: Synopsis [English]
L'Elisir d'Amore: Libretto [Italian]

About the Production
As it was mentioned in the post devoted to the premiere, the programme booklet contains a very nice and well selected collection of wonderful photos from italian movies such as "Riso Amaro" (1949) by Giuseppe de Santis with Silvana Mangano and Vittorio Gassman, "Brutti sporchi e cattivi" (1976) by Ettore Scola, "La Strada" (1954) and "Amarcord" (1973) by Federico Fellini or "Pane, amore e..." (1955) by Dino Risi. The production by Laurent Pelly was pretty much inspired in those movies.

Here they are some photos and some excerpts of the magnificent "Riso Amaro" (1949) by Giuseppe de Santis with a stunning 19 year old Silvana Mangano and Vittorio Gassman.





Silvana Mangano in Riso Amaro (Giuseppe de Santis, 1949)

Excerpt of Riso Amaro (Giuseppe de Santis, 1949)


Excerpt of Riso Amaro (Giuseppe de Santis, 1949)


Excerpt of Riso Amaro (Giuseppe de Santis, 1949)


Excerpt of Riso Amaro (Giuseppe de Santis, 1949)


Reports
Anne-Laure has attended the performance of l'Elisir d'Amore at Opera Bastille on 15. Oct 2009 and she wrote the following short report:

Anna was again fantastic. Castronovo sang instead of Filianoti who was ill. It seems that Anna was also ill but I'm not sure. I think that I heard her tell a friend that she was sorry for not being at 100% because she had a cold, but no one could imagine that, as her singing was breathtaking and gorgeous. During her aria in the second act, she sustained a high note with a magnificent piano, that lasted and lasted... and I could not breath. It was absolutely incredible to hear such a magic sound.

Now she's flying to Russia to see her father who celebrates his 75th birthday.

Press Reports

Sur scène, un couple de rêve qui est accueilli triomphalement au salut final. Anna Netrebko chante le rôle avec une facilité déconcertante, un plaisir évident et la légère distance qu’on lui connaît sied très bien au personnage. La voix est belle, fruitée, égale sur toute la tessiture, et la technique, virtuose.
Marcel Quillévéré, Forum Opera 15. Oct 2009

On-line Press Reports
Un élixir bonifié - By Didier van Moere, ConcertoNet.com [French]****
Un Elisir à déguster sans façon! - By Marcel Quillévéré, Forum Opera 15. Oct 2009 [French]*****

Photos
Anna Netrebko backstage after the performance of l'Elisir d'Amore at Opera Bastille, Paris 15. Oct 2009. Photo: Alice

Related Posts
Anna Netrebko 2009-2010 Season
L'Elisir d'Amore, Opera Bastille, Paris 10. Oct 2009