A Striking Performance
Verdi's 'La forza
del destino' -
reviewed by
ROBERT ANDERSON'... the gypsy and her confederates do Verdi proud ...'
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A première for this opera in St Petersburg was scheduled for the autumn of 1861; but that happened to be a particularly momentous year in Russian history: Alexander II achieved the liberation of the serfs, a couple of years before America freed its slaves. Verdi had indeed travelled to the Russian capital, but political controversy was such that the first performance was postponed a further twelve months. It was a success, but Verdi revised the work considerably for Milan in 1869.
Operatic directors are now among my pet aversions, and David Pountney turns out here to be no exception...
Copyright © 1 January 2012
Robert Anderson,
London UK
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