Sonya Yoncheva triumphs in Il pirata at La Scala

By James Imam, 02 July 2018

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

Reviewed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 29 June 2018

Bellini, Il pirata

Teatro alla Scala

Riccardo Frizza, Conductor

Emilio Sagi, Director

Daniel Bianco, Set Designer

Pepa Ojanguren, Costume Designer

Sonya Yoncheva, Imogene

Piero Pretti, Gualtiero

Nicola Alaimo, Ernesto

Olaf Winter, Lighting Designer

Coro del Teatro alla Scala

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala

Diamonds and steel: Anna Pirozzi rules in La Scala’s Turandot revival

Laura Servidei, 12th April

Visually enchanting and meticulously staged, this centenary revival confirms Livermore's production as a modern classic.

****1

The Ring returns to the Rhine: Götterdämmerung at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 1st February

Under Alexander Soddy’s powerful conducting and Sir David McVicar’s dark, evocative staging, the Ring finds a searing conclusion, anchored by a powerful Brünnhilde from Camilla Nylund, as the world burns.

*****

Shostakovitch’s Lady Macbeth conquers La Scala on opening night

Laura Servidei, 7th December

Shostakovich's brutal tale of sex, murder and madness storms La Scala's opening night, with Riccardo Chailly leading his final season premiere as Music Director.

****1

The game of love: Robert Carsen’s new Così fan tutte at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 8th November

Alexander Soddy leads a great cast in a clever, supremely entertaining new production in Milan.

****1

Pelly’s iconic Fille du régiment retains its charm at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 17th October

Julie Fuchs and Juan Diego Flórez give life to the refreshing and funny take of Laurent Pelly’s classic production, under the baton of Evelino Pidò.

****1

Martone's modern Rigoletto returns with power and flaws to La Scala

Laura Servidei, 10th October

A Rigoletto revival in Milan is elevated by a stellar vocal performance from Amartuvshin Enkhbat, despite a finale that divides opinion and some uneven orchestral pacing.

***11

More reviews...

James Imam

James Imam is an arts journalist writing for publications including The Financial Times, The Times, Musical America and Opera magazine. He grew up in Manchester, read anthropology at Cambridge and has since lived in Milan. As a once-aspiring countertenor he has an abiding interest in Baroque music.