The Royal Opera House is currently reviving Elijah Moshinsky’s production of Verdi’s tragedy. Here’s what critics have been saying about it…
The Guardian: **** “Singing with burnished warmth of tone and an impeccable sense of line, Álvarez is entirely convincing both as the private man and the public figure, carefully contrasting the impulsive sensualist of the prologue with the careworn, principled statesman of the later acts.”
The Arts Desk: *** “while it won’t be setting anyone’s palazzo on fire, this Boccanegra is still a satisfying evening of theatrical politics.”
Evening Standard: *** “What gives the opera its distinctive colour is the prominence of low voices, embodied in the enmity between the baritone of Boccanegra and the bass of Fiesco. Here, Carlos Alvarez (Boccanegra) and Ferruccio Furlanetti (Fiesco) sound a bit threadbare at first, but, after gathering their considerable resources, their eventual reconciliation is properly moving.”
The Stage: *** “. A good evening’s work from the chorus and orchestra under Hungarian conductor Henrik Nanasi, who explores the score’s textures and colours efficiently while missing too much of its detail.”
The Telegraph: *** “This is a performance that can be warmly recommended to operatic conservatives.”
Bachtrack.com: **** “Although Henrik Nánási sometimes dragged his heels in the pit, the weighty sound he drew from the orchestra suits Moshinsky’s production.”
Culture Whisper: **** “The radiant Armenian soprano Hrachuhi Bassenz sings Amelia with a frankness that reflects the young woman’s simple upbringing. The Spanish baritone Carlos Alvararez in the title role is every inch, and every note, the leader who has grown in wisdom as well as power.”
MarkRonan.com: ” The bold large-scale designs, emphasised by an absence of clutter and the cleverly calculated deep perspective of the set, give authority to the story, based on real characters in fourteenth century Genoa. It allows the chorus to fill the space very naturally at important moments while retaining the personal drama that Verdi so masterfully gives us. A very strong cast and a perfect first night for this new run.”
Simon Boccanegra continues to play at the Royal Opera House until the 10th December. To book tickets click here.