Verdi: I due Foscari (Naples, 2000)

Cast: Leo Nucci (Francesco Foscari), Vincenzo la Scola (Jacopo Foscari), Alexandrina Pendatchanska (Lucrezia Contarini), Danilo Rigosa (Jacopo Loredano), Leopoldo lo Sciuto (Barbarigo), Bergit Eger (Daniele Zanfardino, Fange del Consiglio dei Dieci), Giuseppe Zecchillo (Servo di Doge); Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet of Teatro di San Carlo, Nello Santi (conductor), Werner Düggelin (director), Raimund Baueri (designer), Geroge Blume (video director)

Recorded at Teatro di San Carlo, Naples in 2000

Issued on DVD by TDK Mediactive in 2002 in north America [DVUS-OPIDF, NTSC/all regions, menus in English, subtitles in English, Italian, French, Spanish] and in Europe [DV-OPIDF, PAL/all regions with subtitles in English, Italian, French, Spanish, German].

Technical details:
Aspect ratio 16:9
Sound LPCM Stereo, AC3 5.1, DTS 5.1

Running time: 114 minutes

Sung in Italian
It is a delight to find that the first video recording of such a rarity is so well performed. The production is simple and straightforward, the conducting of the modest orchestra shows a sure touch of the Verdi style. Picture and sound are fine. Above all, the singing delivers full value of the score.

Nucci is in his element here with his strong, free voice ringing clearly as the Doge. If he has not acquired subtlety, subtlety is not demanded in this early work. La Scola surprises; his fully satisfying spinto lacks a bit in sensitivity but more than compensates with a compelling reading dramatically. Pendatchanska has everything one can ask in the role and delivers it with confidence. One may note that the chorus is bit careless at times and that the solo voices are not ideally balanced in ensemble, but those are quibbles in a performance which is otherwise fully satisfying.

This is Verdi finding his way. The libretto is weak, ending in tragedy not supported by what has gone before. But the opera is more consistent musically than such predecessors as Ernani and Nabucco, while one hears pre-echo of middle Verdi, notably of Rigoletto and Il trovatore. This release should satisfy not only those who want to trace Verdi's development but also those who seek two hours of thrilling opera.
 
Related website:
TDK Mediactive www.tdk-mediactive.com
 
Michael Richter, 20 December 2003
mrichter@cpl.net
 
See also Michael Richter's Introduction to the DVD, for a list of other reviews see the DVD Project page.