As far as Cavalli's operas go, this reviewer does prefer 'La Didone'. Don't get me wrong, the libretto is complex and rich still and much of the music is beautiful if not as inspired as that of 'La Didone' and Giasone's music sometimes lacks variety.
This production overall has a huge amount to like, and makes do as a performance of a rarely performed and somewhat unjustly forgotten opera, though it was much more popular in its day. This said, there is a DVD of 'La Didone' that is a superior production of any of Cavalli's operas and is almost perfect.
'Il Giasone' (2012) does have some rather ugly costumes, but it is the staging where it underwhelms. There are some entertaining and heart-breaking moments, but overall the staging was not my cup of tea, being too silly, going overboard with the bawdiness which felt misplaced at times and being unnecessarily over-complicated. The climax is unintentionally goofy which does hurt the intensity of that scene.
However, this production of 'Il Giasone' is saved by that the musical values are so incredible here. In this regard there is nothing to fault here. As ever with a lot of productions of early music opera the orchestral playing is stylish, elegant and alive to energy, depth, tension and nuanced pathos, while it is authoritatively, alertly and sympathetically conducted. The chorus also impress.
Regarding some of the other visuals, the lighting is atmosphere and the sets fare much better than the costumes being seductive and the antithesis of ugly, gaudy or drab. From a technical point of view, it is expansively and intricately video directed, the picture quality is focused and clear and the sound allows one to fully enjoy the impact of the music.
Christophe Dumaux plays a weasel of a character to delicious perfection, and sounds sublime. Katarina Bradić portrays Medea with plenty of fire. Robin Johannsen is a touching and vibrantly sung Isifile, while Andrew Ashwin sings sonorously and acts amorously as Oreste, Josef Wagner sings with warmth and a slight touch of gravel and Emilio Pons is an intense Egeo.
Filippo Adami clearly enjoys himself in the role of Demo, while Yaniv d'Or, in drag, is a handsome but lecherous Delfa and Angélique Noldus has a supple lyricism to her singing.
Overall, incredible musically but there are reservations about the staging. 7/10 Bethany Cox
This production overall has a huge amount to like, and makes do as a performance of a rarely performed and somewhat unjustly forgotten opera, though it was much more popular in its day. This said, there is a DVD of 'La Didone' that is a superior production of any of Cavalli's operas and is almost perfect.
'Il Giasone' (2012) does have some rather ugly costumes, but it is the staging where it underwhelms. There are some entertaining and heart-breaking moments, but overall the staging was not my cup of tea, being too silly, going overboard with the bawdiness which felt misplaced at times and being unnecessarily over-complicated. The climax is unintentionally goofy which does hurt the intensity of that scene.
However, this production of 'Il Giasone' is saved by that the musical values are so incredible here. In this regard there is nothing to fault here. As ever with a lot of productions of early music opera the orchestral playing is stylish, elegant and alive to energy, depth, tension and nuanced pathos, while it is authoritatively, alertly and sympathetically conducted. The chorus also impress.
Regarding some of the other visuals, the lighting is atmosphere and the sets fare much better than the costumes being seductive and the antithesis of ugly, gaudy or drab. From a technical point of view, it is expansively and intricately video directed, the picture quality is focused and clear and the sound allows one to fully enjoy the impact of the music.
Christophe Dumaux plays a weasel of a character to delicious perfection, and sounds sublime. Katarina Bradić portrays Medea with plenty of fire. Robin Johannsen is a touching and vibrantly sung Isifile, while Andrew Ashwin sings sonorously and acts amorously as Oreste, Josef Wagner sings with warmth and a slight touch of gravel and Emilio Pons is an intense Egeo.
Filippo Adami clearly enjoys himself in the role of Demo, while Yaniv d'Or, in drag, is a handsome but lecherous Delfa and Angélique Noldus has a supple lyricism to her singing.
Overall, incredible musically but there are reservations about the staging. 7/10 Bethany Cox
