Nucci authoritative in La Scala's gloomy Simon Boccanegra

By James Imam, 05 November 2014

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Reviewed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 31 October 2014

Verdi, Simon Boccanegra

Teatro alla Scala

Stefano Ranzani, Conductor

Federico Tiezzi, Director

Pier Paolo Bisleri, Set Designer

Leo Nucci, Simon Boccanegra

Alexander Tsymbalyuk, Jacopo Fiesco

Carmen Giannattasio, Amelia Grimaldi

Ramón Vargas, Gabriele Adorno

Vitaliy Bilyy, Paolo Albiani

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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.

*****

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****1

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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

Rossini Renaissance renewed: Ponnelle’s Cenerentola at La Scala

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Conductor Gianluca Capuano leads the Accademia Teatro alla Scala orchestra and a solid cast in a fun, bubbling performance of a classic staging.

****1

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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.