'Fedora', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'Giordano's wishes were admirably followed ...'

<<< << -- 4 -- Robert Anderson A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE

This 1993 performance is admirably conducted by the veteran Gianandrea Gavazzeni, who has since joined the immortals in a loftier sphere. But it is a refreshment to watch and hear how idiomatically he directs a score that should be far more familiar here. Giordano obviously liked political turmoil. The Andrea Chénier of two years previously is embroiled in the midst of the French Revolution, and now we have a moment in Russian history when, to quote Madame de Stael, 'despotism was mitigated by strangulation' (more strictly a couple of bombs). At the Scala in 1993 there was no need to implicate the director in the bloodbath. Giordano's wishes were admirably followed, and Radiotelevisione Italiana can congratulate itself on a memorable experience.

Umberto Giordano: Fedora

DVWW-OPFED DVD9 NTSC 4:3 Region 0 (worldwide) DD 5.1,DTS 5.1,LPCM Stereo NEW RELEASE 113' 1993 RAI, 2006 TDK Marketing Europe GmbH

Mirella Freni, Princess Fedora Romazov; Adelina Scarabelli, Countess Olga Sukarev; Plácido Domingo, Count Loris Ipanov; Alessandro Corbelli, Diplomat; Silvia Mazzoni, young boy; Monica Minarelli, a little Savoyard; Ernesto Gavazzi, valet; Aldo Bottion, Baron Rouvel; Luigi Roni, coachman; Silvestro Sammaritano, doctor; Alfredo Giacomotti, police officer; Ernesto Panariello, surgeon; Vincenzo Alaimo, footman; Bruno Capisani, footman; Renato Zanchetta, porter; Arnold Bosman, pianist; Coro del Teatro alla Scala; Roberto Gabbiani, chorus master; Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala; Gianandrea Gavazzeni, conductor; Lamberto Puggelli, director; Luisa Spinatelli, sets, costumes

Umberto Giordano (1867-1948): Fedora (Opera in three acts, 1898, libretto by Arturo Colautti, after Victorien Sardou)

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