Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
Oberto - Dramma in due atti (124:00)
Cuniza - Mariana Pentcheva (mezzo); Riccardo - Fabio Sartori (tenor); Oberto
- Giovanni Barrista Parodi (bass); Leonora - Francesca Sassu (soprano); Giorgia
Bertagni (mezzo)
Chorus and orchestra of the Teatro Regio del Parma/Antonello Allemandi
Pier’Alli (director and designer)
rec. live, Teatro Verdi di Busseto, 16, 23 October 2007
NTSC 16:9 format
PCM Stereo & DTS 5.1
Region code 0
Subtitles in Italian, English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese
C MAJOR 720008 DVD [124:00+10:00]
Oberto was Verdi’s first opera. It had a complex history, the libretto
having been initially written by Antonio Piazza as Rocester. Eventually
it was revised and completed by Temistocle Solera. The action was moved and
altered to the civil wars in early 13th century Italy and the impending
wedding of Cuniza and Riccardo. Leonora, Oberto’s daughter, tells Cuniza
that she has been seduced by Riccardo. Eventually Cuniza accepts this and
insists that the latter marry Leonora. Oberto however challenges Riccardo
to a duel in which Oberto is killed. Ricardo flees and Leonora enters a convent.
All of this is explained in a short bonus item. It may be hard to believe
in the plot as a whole, but the sheer energy that Verdi’s score provides
ensures that the listener is caught up in the situation as it emerges. Although
the customary arrangement into a series of cavatina/caballeta remains
very obvious Verdi goes beyond that, especially in the way in which recitatives
and ensembles are knitted into the whole. The themes of fathers and daughters,
of fallen women and of libertine tenors all loom large in later Verdi operas
but are seen here in embryo.
This disc forms part of the “Tutto Verdi” collection and like
the rest of that series makes use of the chorus and orchestra of the Teatro
Regio del Parma. However the performance here actually took place in the much
smaller Teatro Verdi di Busseto which seats only about 300 people. Oberto
was first performed at La Scala in Milan but with its diminutive cast, limited
action and straightforward plot it works particularly well in a small theatre.
None of the singers were known to me before but all are well cast and give
convincing accounts of the music. Best of all are Marian Pentcheva and Francesca
Sassu, both having voices of considerable beauty - and agility when required,
and well contrasted. In this small theatre neither they nor the men need to
force their voices. The chorus and orchestra are also admirable and alert,
and Antonello Allemandi keeps the whole performance moving but without undue
rushing. The staging is rudimentary but effective, with little attempt at
providing more than varied groupings in which the artists for the most part
can sing directly at the audience.
Oberto is always likely to be a rarity in the theatre so that for most
Verdi enthusiasts CDs or DVDs will be the best way to get to know it. It is
certainly worthwhile to do so, and I cannot imagine many better ways of doing
this than through the present disc which may well prove to be one of the best
issues of this anniversary year.
John Sheppard
One of the best issues of this Verdi anniversary year.
see also review of the Bluray version by Robert Farr