Cyrano de Bergerac [Grabación audiovisual] D.L. 2007
1 disco (Bluray)
Conductor Patrick Fournillier
Chorus Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana
Chorus Master Francesc Perales
Orchestra Orquestra de la
Comunitat Valenciana
Music Director Lorin Maazel
Cyrano Plácido Domingo
Roxane Sondra Radvanovsky
Christian Arturo Chacón-Cruz
De Guiche Rodney Gilfry
Ragueneau Carmelo Corrado Caruso
Staged by Michal Znaniecki
Directed by Tiziano Mancini
Recorded at the Palau de les Arts "Reina Sofía", Valencia
A production of UNI TEL and Pala u de les Arts "Reina Sof ía", Valencia in co-operation with IME International Music Events
HDTV 1080 / Length approx. 140'
Cat. no. A93001726
Domingo creates the magical illusion that Alfano wrote the role especially for him: Domingo de Bergerac" (review of the premiere in the Madrid daily ABC).Plácido Domingo‘s triumph in Valencia‘s stunningly futuristic theater El Palau de les Arts in February 2007 echoes the overwhelmingly positive reception he obtained at the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in this role. A coproduction of the New York, London
and Valencia houses, Franco Alfano‘s little-known 1936 opera "Cyrano de Bergerac" has been reawakened to life by the great Spanish tenor.
Although Alfano (1875-1954) enjoyed a long and prolific career as an opera composer, he is known today above all for having completed Puccini‘s "Turandot". His earlier works not surprisingly reflect Puccini‘s verismo style, but his later works - including „Cyrano de Bergerac" - are clearly inspired by Debussy, Ravel and Strauss. Opulent scoring and colorful orchestral effects elegantly underscore the tragic story based on Rostand‘s famous drama of 1897, which achieved international celebrity in the Oscar-nominated 1990 film adaptation with Gérard Depardieu. Alfano‘s work faithfully relates the story of the large-nosed soldier poet who pines for the beautiful Roxane and writes her glowing love letters in the name of his fellow soldier Christian, who also loves her.
At an age when most singers start contemplating retirement, Domingo unearthed this opera, which was premiered in Rome in 1936, and added the role of Cyrano to his repertoire - as the 121st of his career! Domingo had long been looking for a new role that was both a vocal and dramatic challenge. He was particularly delighted by the role‘s "anti-hero" quality. "It‘s a beautiful role", he asserts, "and I‘m so happy I could discover it this late in my career." With his charismatic stage presence, Domingo clearly dominates the production, directed by Michal Znaniecki and conducted by Patrick Fournillier, one of France‘s leading conductors. Nevertheless, his pairing with American soprano Sondra Radvanovsky could hardly be more felicitous, as she brings a full, dramatic voice that rises effortlessly above the work‘s luxuriant orchestration. The many supporting roles are equally well cast and accompanied by the expressively playing Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana and the Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana.
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