Hans Pfitzner Palestrina opera to a libretto by the composer. Directed 2009 by Christian Stückl at the Bayerische Staatsoper in München. Stars Christopher Ventris (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina), Peter Rose (Pope Pius IV), Michael Volle (Giovanni Morone), Jon Daszak (Bernardo Novagerio), Roland Bracht (Cardinal Christoph Madruscht), Falk Struckmann (Carlo Borromeo), and Christiane Karg (Ighino). Simone Young conducts the Bayerisches Staatsochester and the Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper (Chorus Masters Andrés Máspero and Stellario Fagone). Stage and costume design by Stefan Hageneier; lighting design by Michael Bauer. Directed for TV by Karina Fibich. Also includes Making of “Palestrina” bonus film. Sung in German. Released 2019, disc has dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was 16th century Italian composer who is still important for his church music and his contributions to the teaching of counterpoint. Hans Pfitzner’s opera about Palestrina was first performed in 1917 in München. It proved to be hard to sell tickets to an opera about the history of church music. Pfitzner went on also to become controversial because of his conservative positions and support for National Socialism. But there are still those who believe his music is too good to be discarded: this title give you a chance to form your own opinion about Herr Pfitzner and his Palestrina. In our next lecture, we will learn about 20th-century developments in Germany in the art and science of root-canal surgery.
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