Giordano - Fedora / Freni, Domingo, Croft, Arteta, Thibaudet, Abbado, Metropolitan Opera

I attended a performance of Giordano’s Fedora at the Met starring Placido Domingo as Loris Ipanov and Mirella Freni as Princess Fedora Ramazov in 1996 or 1997. I loved the production then and thought it time now to revisit this fine opera on Deutsche Grammophon’s excellent DVD. The DVD was made from a performance at the Met in April 1997 and is based on a production at the Liceu in Barcelona.Fedora is based on a play by Victorien Sardou (who also provided the play on which Puccini based “Tosca”) to showcase the talents of Sarah Bernhardt. The opera like the play needs a leading lady or prima donna of exceptional ability who is able to approach the emotional verismo style and to do so with a conviction that makes the character appealing. There is no question that Mirella Freni achieves this and more in this beautiful production. From the moment she makes her grand entrance to prolonged applause in Act I she is the Princess Fedora, gorgeously attired and coiffed, in the manner of the Russian aristocracy of that period. She virtually never leaves the stage. Unlike Maddalena in Giordano’s “Andrea Chenier” she has no major aria to sing but she sings beautifully throughout and conveys the emotions required of this demanding role.Placido Domingo both looks wonderful and sings beautifully as Loris Ipanov. Ipanov is a great role for a tenor and it is interesting that Caruso appeared in the world premiere of the opera at the Teatro Lirico in Milan in November 1898. Domingo’s rendition of “Amor ti vieta” justifiably brought the house down. This is truly one of the great arias in the verismo repertory and Domingo’s rendition of it was simply wonderful. Dwayne Croft, as the French diplomat, De Siriex, cuts a dashing stage presence and sings beautifully. His amusing aria “La donna russa” describing the attributes of aristocratic Russian ladies of the time was beautifully sung and I’m surprised one does not hear it sung more often on its own. Ainhoa Arteta, as Countess Olga Sukarov, plays the role of a flirtatious and scatterbrained young woman to perfection and brought an air of lightness to this tragic verismo opera. She seemed almost like a character from a Strauss operetta. Stephen West is an imposing and well-sung Grech, the somewhat sinister tsarist police officer. The conducting by Robert Abbado was superb.It was a pleasure to see the sets by Ferrucio Villagrossi conforming to what might be expected of an opera set around 1881 when Tsar Alexander II was assassinated, an event that brings Act II to its close. The costumes are simply exquisite and the opulent sets are in the belle époque style. The audio and video qualities of the DVD are excellent and the subtitles work very well with only very occasional lapses when something is not translated.I highly recommend this DVD to all opera lovers and especially those who love the verismo operas. Fedora does not quite attain the level of excellence of Giordano’s “Andrea Chenier.” However, when it is performed in the grand style and sung by outstanding artists as we have in this production, it runs a very close second.

Don't miss this fine production of Giordano's Fedora. Rarely performed, but brought to sparkling life by the Met in 1996, it is now reproduced on a DVD. Not only were they wise enough to use the production of the Gran Teatro Del Liceu in Barcelona, which is magnificent, but they enticed Mirella Freni and Placido Domingo to sing the lead roles. These singers are well matched with their mature, elegant, rich voices. Dwayne Croft and Jean-Yves Thibaudet complement them to perfection. It is such a thrill to enjoy a nicely put together performance of this melodrama one never gets to see "live".

You can tell here that Giordano was still stuck in the old way of making opera, thank God. This is Mirella's feast and she makes the most of it. But Placy does upstage her. He's got the better aria - and the crowd goes on and on and on. Traditional MET production, but it looks pretty expensive - no cheap job. I wouldn't say that Fedora will ever replace Andrea Chenier - but it is worth a look from time to time - now with such a good production. The only studio CD was a squaller with Magda Olivera and Mario del Monaco. His shouting was just too much to take. And while she isn't usually a shouter I think she felt she better belt it out to keep up with him. None of that here - just two great singers having it out.

I enjoyed it immensely. The plot is fun. Costumes and sets are extravagant and wonderful. Freni and Domingo are super but I expected that. The supporting cast is, without exception, terrific - really superior. And I went to bed humming.I hesitated for a long time to buy this because in the past when I have purchased "second string" operas I have been disappointed and sorry I spent my money. I didn't like La Donna del Lago, Russalka or Adriana Lecouvreur. But Fedora was fun. I loved it. ~ Celeste Downey

For the fans of Domingo. and Freni or either....and for the collector of their works or of the productions of the Metropolitan.

Contains Domingo's most ardent aria.

I really enjoyed this opera. It has a great story line to it. Mirella Freni and Placido Domingo are just wonderful. The singing is superb,great audio and production. Mirella Freni gets a special presentation,which can be seen. She truly is a Star of Stars. She is just fantastic vocally and acting. English subtitles. 5 stars isn't enough. Just watch the applause at the end. It was so moving to watch a display like that for a true artist. I've never seen that much affection for an artist in any opera. Truly worth the purchase. Highly Recommended!!!

This is not a classic opera, for sure -- but BUY THIS for the singing. I can't find anything to nitpick at and that's unusual for me. The singing, production, direction, conducting all seem to be right on the mark. Domingo and Freni have always been 2 of my favorite singers but here we have preserved what in my view is the performance of a lifetime. It all seems so real. Their scene in the last part of Acts 2 & 3 are worth the price of the DVD alone.

This is worthy of a place in any opera lover`s collection. I do not understand bemoaning the age of the artists......pre filmed performances and plasma screen and dvd players, opera glasses (virtually useless things) gave as near a closeup as was possible. It certainly looked like the diva`s swan song as she entered on stage and stood to acknowledge thunderous applause for just a little too long. Who could blame her?what was to follow is superb production and staged to compliment the time and places of the action to perfection. A joy in every way an no "have to be different"David Miller and the like. Bravo The MET. PS the prices shown for this opera varied and a lot.

Although the score makes considerable demands on both main characters, it is only really Freni who succumbs. She is generally squally and, at times, sings flat, but in quieter moments the old magic shines through. However, Dessi is preferable, but that performance has weaknesses elsewhere . Domingo copes far better, one might almost say heroically. The production is pleasingly traditional, no expense spared : typical Met. The orchestra is in splendid form, the conducting incisive, sensitive and authoritative.

One of my favourite albums

I love it

Mitte/Ende der Neunziger entdeckten die führenden Opernhäuser der Welt (Wien, New York, Mailand, Barcelona etc.) Umberto Giordanos Werk (wieder). Auch wenn die Handlung der Oper etwas verworren ist, Fedora ist mit Sicherheit eine der dramatischsten Opern überhaupt.Der vorliegende Mitschnitt aus der Met basiert auf einer Produktion, die 1996 Premiere hatte. Diese Aufführung wird denjenigen, die diese Aufführung gesehen haben, unvergessen bleiben. Nicht nur war die gesamte Fedora ideal besetzt, am gleichen Wochenende sang auch Luciano Pavarotti noch Andrea Chenier... - Besetzungen, von denen man heute - 8 Jahre säter - nur noch träumen kann. Für den Opernliebhaber markiert diese Fedora insofern das Ausklingen einer glanzvollen Epoche.Der vorliegende Mitschnitt ist die beste derzeit erhältliche Aufnahme dieser Oper (auf CD oder DVD). Freni singt hier (1997) ihre letzte Serie an der Metropolitan Opera: Sie ist als Fedora einfach atemberaubend. Placido Domingo - selbst ebenfalls ausgezeichnet disponiert und ein idealer Loris - stellt sie allerings mühelos in den Schatten. Der gefeierte Star der Produktion ist zweifelsohne Mirella Freni.Die Inszenierung wurde von Gran Teatre Del Liceu übernommen. Die Ausstattung ist - wie für New York üblich - glanzvoll und eine Augenweide. Die Regie von De Tomasi ist sehr detailgetreu und realistisch.Danke an die Deutsche Grammophon, diese Aufnahme so schnell auf den Markt zu bringen.Für jeden Opernfan ist diese Aufnahme einfach ein Muss!!!