Verdi Rigoletto at the ROH 7.4.12

[Chris Newman]

A reminder that the live performance of Rigoletto is being shown in Odeon cinemas tomorrow (Tuesday 17th April). Ekaterina Siurina is the advertised Gilda for this performance. Sales are going well in Salisbury and the screening has been moved into the main cinema auditorium.

[Barbirollians]

The Guardian is suggesting that Crowe may be singing here too - that just may be how the article is written though.

[Prommer]

It was Siurina tonight. I have just got back from a very fine, impressive evening at the ROH, and would be glad to compare notes with those who were also there, or watching in the cinemas of the world... Platanias has a fabulous Verdi baritone, acted well within the constraints of this production - shades of Gobbi but without the bark of his singing or the bite of his acting as yet. Grigolo was predictably extrovert but not straining for effect as much as I had been led to believe. He does do so at the curtain calls which he needs to tone down. Can his mum not tell him? Anyway, his mum would have had to look away seeing what he was doing to Christine Rice on stage as Maddalena. Someone get them a room.

JEG-gers proved again that he can conduct Verdi, rather as a British Muti, and it is rather good. Disciplined, tightly controlled, wonderful detail, and it zips along. He even permitted himself an accelerando in the closing bars of La vendetta...

Before I go on, any other takers?

[Barbirollians]

Glad you enjoyed it - how was Siurina ?

[Chris Newman]

The best sung role of Rigoletto I have ever heard. If Dimitri Platianas sings fierce and angry with such character and beauty of tone I want to hear him in lyrical Verdi. He is fabulous; much sweeter than Gobbi. Siurina was excellent. I agree Grigolo needs to stop milking curtain calls. His passionate acting was in character...reminded me of a more realistic Villazon...let's hope he stays more sensible with the voice.

I cannot praise Jeggers enough. Superb. Only complaint: the singers were dominant in the cinema and I would have liked a little more of that fabulous sheen of the orchestra.

[Barbirollians]

I am glad to read that my high opinion of the singing is shared by others on here. I also agree about JEG's conducting - very fine indeed.

[Prommer]

Siurina gave us a wonderful diminuendo on her top note in the closing bars/breaths that was quite stunning.

Platanias will be unbeatable in this role within five years.

Grigolo created a great deal of swooning in my part of the house, I can tell you. The box office assistant had told me breathlessly when I collected my tickets that although they were to the side, 'you'll have a great view of Vittorio'....

[David-G]

The box office assistant had told me breathlessly when I collected my tickets that although they were to the side, 'you'll have a great view of Vittorio'....

Prommer, which side were you? I am going to be over to the extreme right on Saturday. Just wondering what sort of view I will have...

[Barbirollians]

Prommer, which side were you? I am going to be over to the extreme right on Saturday. Just wondering what sort of view I will have...

It will be OK for the singers especially for Crowe and Platanias but you will not be best placed for the opening nude scene ! Don't worry you won't miss anything !

[Prommer]

I was on the left... But you will be fine either way. It is a cumbersome and unattractive set but most things happen at mid-stage.

[Stanfordian]

In the ROH's rather lacklustre season this revival stands out. The production may not be to all tastes but it suits the venality of the Duke of Mantua and his court and I thought the singing, playing and conducting by JEG were all outstanding.

Platanias's deep rich baritone made one feel sympathetic for the eponymous hero for once, Grigolo is ideal casting for the young,handsome but monstrous Duke and sang much better I felt here than in the recent Faust and Lucy Crowe a singer who I rate very highly in classical and baroque repertoire was a revelation as Gilda - wonderfully accurate and secure but such stylish singing. A touchingly innocent Caro Nome and superb in her death scene and stepping in at short notice to sing her first ever Gilda she deserved her thundering ovation

Highly recommended .

I attended the ROH production of Rigoletto on Tuesday evening at my local Odeon cinema. It was advertised as being live from the ROH. I must say that I really enjoyed the production. The David McVicar production was well directed by Leah Hauman. It was gripping and often exciting. However, I felt a local professional production of Rigoletto that I saw at the weekend made a better job of the providing real tension in the final scene with the body of Gilda lying dying in an old sack.

Greek baritone Dimitri Platanias was quite superb in the role of Rigoletto and stole the show. He certainly deserves to be better known. Singing well Ekaterina Siurina was acceptable as Gilda although I thought she projected a touch weakly and I wasn’t too persuaded by her acting. Seeming so full of himself Vittorio Grigolo was also adequate as the Duke of Mantua. Somehow his acting didn’t convince me as much as I expected. Grigolo seemed rather too nice as the philandering and untrustworthy Duke. I think Jonas Kaufmann or Roberta Alagna are better actors and would have made a more convincingly nasty Duke of Mantua.

But overall it was very enjoyable.

[Chris Newman]

Sheltering from the rain whilst shopping today I bumped into friends whom I had not noticed in our Odeon. They are still bowled over by Dimitri Platanias as Rigoletto.