Codes of honour trip up Bechtolf's Ernani at La Scala

By Mark Pullinger, 30 September 2018

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“Meli didn't quite slap his thighs but it was a close run thing”

Reviewed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 29 September 2018

Verdi, Ernani

Teatro alla Scala

Ádám Fischer, Conductor

Sven-Eric Bechtolf, Director

Julian Crouch, Set Designer

Kevin Pollard, Costume Designer

Francesco Meli, Ernani

Ailyn Pérez, Elvira

Luca Salsi, Don Carlo

Ildar Abdrazakov, Don Ruy Gomez de Silva

Daria Cherniy, Giovanna

Matteo Desole, Don Riccardo

Alessandro Spina, Jago

Coro del Teatro alla Scala

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala

Marco Filibeck, Lighting Designer

Filippo Marta, Video

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...

Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.