Waking Nightmares: Mario Martone's Cav—Pag reprised at La Scala

By Courtney Smith, 15 June 2015

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“Bucolic choral interludes were refined in warm russets, redolent of golden harvest”

Reviewed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 12 June 2015

Mascagni, Cavalleria rusticana

Leoncavallo, Pagliacci

Teatro alla Scala

Carlo Rizzi, Conductor

Mario Martone, Director

Ursula Patzak, Costume Designer

Sergio Tramonti, Set Designer

Violeta Urmana, Santuzza

Oksana Volkova, Lola

Mara Zampieri, Mamma Lucia

Stefano La Colla, Turiddu

Marco Vratogna, Alfio, Tonio

Fiorenza Cedolins, Nedda

Jorge de León, Beppe

Marco Berti, Canio

Simone Piazzola, Silvio

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala

Coro 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...

Courtney Smith

Courtney Smith is an American freelance journalist living in Milan, Italy. On classical music and opera, she's written for the BBC Music Magazine, Opera Now, Opera News, Corriere della Sera Style Magazine, Auditorium, Limelight and Classical Singer. She's written in-house for classical music organizations such as The New York Philharmonic and the Royal Opera House's blog. On luxury, fashion and beauty, she's written for The Wall Street Journal, Women's Wear Daily, Grazia.it and W Magazine's Editors' Blog. She's written in-house for brands such as Calvin Klein.

Waking Nightmares: Mario Martone's Cav—Pag double bill reprised at La Scala