Mozart La finta giardiniera opera (composed at age 18) to a libretto possibly from Giuseppe Petrosellini. Directed by Frederic Wake-Walker at the Teatro alla Scala in 2018 (reviving his 2014 production at Glyndebourne). Stars Julia Martin du Theil (La Marchesa Violante or Sandra in disguise), Bernard Richter (Il Contino Belfiore), Krešimir Špicer (Don Anchise), Anett Fritsch (Arminda), Lucia Cirillo (Il Cavalier Ramiro), Giulia Semenzato (Serpetta), and Mattia Olivieri (Nardo). Diego Fasolis directs the Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala on period instruments; fortepiano by James Vaughan; harpsichord by Paolo Spadaro. Set and costume designs by Antony McDonald; lighting by Lucy Carter. Directed for TV by Daniela Vismara. Sung in Italian. Released 2001, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
This is our third Finta in Blu-ray. It’s a 3 act work, but it seems to divide into two halves: the first half is set in the house of the town mayor, Don Anchise. The second half begins when all the characters find themselves lost in the woods. Our earliest Finta, from Opernhaus Zürich, has an hilarious first half, but the second half gets boring. Our second Finta, from Opéra de Lille, starts off weak, but is delightful in the second half.
There’s reason to hope this Glyndebourne production revived in Milan is good all the way through. Alan Neilson wrote a long, detailed, and perceptive review for Operawire in October, 2018 praising all the singers and the orchestra for a “sparkling performance.” About the same time, Laura Servidei also lauded the live show on Bachtrack noting: “Every character undresses as they sing their solo arias: they need to get out of their costumes to say something meaningful about themselves, and they feel ashamed afterwards. During the madness of the second-act finale, Belfiore and Violante tear the set down, destroying the fake world they’ve been living in, emerging from the wreckage in simple garments and declaring their love in a beautiful duet.” After reading these two reviews and viewing the trailer below, you can probably decide is this production is for you:
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