These three wonderful productions from the evocative Glyndebourne surroundings have already been issued as separate sets to great critical acclaim. Now Warner has gone one better and is offering the three operas packed together in one case.
The oldest stagings are "The Barber of Seville" and "La Cenerentola" dating from 1982 and 1983 respectively but "Le Comte Ory" is more recent was it was staged in 1997, and is maybe the more lavish of the three. Notwithstanding the fact that these Rossini gems are not of recent stock, all three are blessed with some exceptional singers such as Maria Ewing and John Rawnsley in "Barbiere", Kathleen Kuhlmann, Claudio Desderi, Lawrence Dale, Alberto Rinaldi and Roderick Kennedy in "La Cenerentola" and Annick Massis, Marc Lalio and Diana Montague in "Le Comte Ory".
Cambreling, Renzetti and Davis all bring out the best from the Glyndebourne forces, and at the end of each opera, one is left wanting for more of this quite infectious music making. Costumes, stage direction and sets are all of the highest quality in all three instances. Sound and vision, though not spectacular are totally satisfying. A must for all opera buffs.
Copyright © 2008 by Gerald Fenech