Bellini, I Puritani: Buenos Aires Lírica. Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Buenos Aires Lírica, Conductor: Guillermo Brizzio. Teatro Avenida, Buenos Aires. 13.11.2009. (JSJ)

Director/Sets/Costumes: Marcelo Perusso

Lighting: Rubén Conde

Chorus: Juan Casasbellas

Cast:

Elvira: Laura Rizzo

Lord Arturo Talbo: Carlos Ullán

Sir Riccardo Forth: Omar Carrión

Sir Giorgio Valton: Christian Peregrino

Lord Gualtiero Valton: Walter Schwarz

Enrichetta de Francia: Vanesa Tomás

Sir Bruno Robertson: Gustavo De Gennaro

L-R) Christian Peregrino (Sir Giorgio), Carlos Ullán (Arturo)
 and Laura Rizzo (Elvira)

Buenos Aires Lírica’s final production of 2009, I Puritani, added some variety to the end of season Verdi offerings of the other Buenos Aires companies. Last staged in the city at the Teatro Colón in 1972 this revival of Bellini’s last work also was timely, raising expectations of what was to come.

As it was,  the production under the direction of the experienced hand of Marcelo Perusso was ultimately somewhat uneven. In character it was dark, dominated by blacks and whites, as befitting its mid-17^th century setting, but little relief along with limited dramatic action by the protagonists made for monotony, and vocally it was mixed.

As Giorgio Valton, Christian Peregrino was the undisputed star of the production, with his fluidity and colour of voice and bearing of character. Laura Rizzo provided a fine characterization of Elvira, although the mad scene lacked drama. Likewise Carlos Ullán was generally pleasing as Arturo. However, Omar Carrión as Riccardo, a noted exponent of this repertoire, seemed to be off form, preventing him from engaging the full complexities of this role. Alongside these Walter Schwarz was a faultless Gualtiero, as too were Vanesa Tomás as Enrichetta and Gustavo De Gennaro as Bruno.

The chorus was mostly satisfactory, and maestro Guillermo Brizzio provided a business-like reading of the score.

Jonathan Spencer Jones

Photo © Liliana Morsia