Death in Florence: Zemlinsky and Puccini at DNO

By Matthew Rye, 15 November 2017

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“Lundgren’s searing, commanding Simone had the lion’s share of the music”

Reviewed at Dutch National Opera and Ballet, Amsterdam on 14 November 2017

Zemlinsky, Eine florentinische Tragödie (A Florentine Tragedy) Op.16

Puccini, Gianni Schicchi

Dutch National Opera

Marc Albrecht, Conductor

Jan Philipp Gloger, Director

Raimund Orfeo Voigt, Set Designer

Karin Jud, Costume Designer

Aušrinė Stundytė, Bianca

Nikolai Schukoff, Guido Bardi, Prince of Forence

John Lundgren, Simone

Massimo Cavalletti, Gianni Schicchi

Mariangela Sicilia, Lauretta

Alessandro Scotto di Luzio, Rinuccio

Enkelejda Shkoza, Zita

Saverio Fiore, Gherardo

Adriana Ferfecka, Nella

Umberto Chiummo, Betto di Signa

Misha Kiria, Marco

Ana Ibarra, La Ciesca

Matteo Peirone, Maestro Spinelloccio

Tomeu Bibloni, Ser Amantio di Nicolao

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

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Mark Vicente, 26th March

Dutch National Ballet's new production of La Bayadère does away with the ballet’s problematic gestures and movements, allowing the choreography to truly shine.

****1

Michel van der Aa’s Theory of Flames: defining opera for a modern age

Clare Varney, 6th March

British singers Mary Bevan and Roderick Williams lead the cast in Dutch National Opera’s latest ground-breaking opera, merging live music with pre-recorded film and electronics.

****1

Dutch National Ballet brings much needed heat to this winter season

Mark Vicente, 10th February

The Dutch National Ballet helped shake off those winter blues with a mixed programme that highlighted ballet’s love affair with Latin rhythms and movement.

****1

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Mengguang Huang, 23rd January

Guth’s Semele turns myth into a contemporary domestic drama, where desire becomes obsession and illusion consumes reality. Handel’s music remains the true engine, driven by a thrilling, physically intense ensemble.

****1

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Ivy Lin, 21st November

Dutch National Ballet's second mixed bill at New York City Center ticked all the right boxes, showcasing the depth of talent across the whole company.

*****

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Ivy Lin, 20th November

Dutch National Ballet returning to New York after more than 40 years should have been thrilling. The opening program, whilst beautifully danced, was somewhat muted.

***11

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Matthew Rye

Matthew read music at Oxford and worked in music journalism for 30 years as a writer, critic and editor. He wrote numerous programme and CD booklet notes, spent 13 years as a Daily Telegraph critic, worked at BBC Music Magazine and was reviews editor of The Strad. He also wrote for The Wagner Journal and Opera and blogged at ferneklang.blogspot.co.uk. He was general editor of 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die (Cassell Illustrated, 2007) and was the author of a new series of eBooks, Masterpieces of Music (Erudition).

Death in Florence: Zemlinsky and Puccini explore related themes at Dutch National Opera