2002-05-11 Il Trovatore (G. Verdi), Royal Opera House (London)

Il Trovatore, Royal Opera House

May 11, 2002 Matinee

I met some members of the JCx and I promised to join this club. I loved Veronica Villarroel as Leonora and Vladimir Chernov as Count di Luna. I did not like to the same extent Yvonne Naef as Azucena and Jose Cura as Manrico, but I don't blame Naef or Cura for that I blame the director (Moshinsky who I have always liked, but this time). I was not overly enthusiastic about the scenography either, even though it was a traditional one. It was a conventional and thought-through production, that was somehow lacking in soul. One of the disappointment of the evening was "Di quella pira", and I am not thinking about any top C's that might or might not be missing ('cause I wouldn't know that), I just felt it was not as exciting as that aria is supposed to be. I was left cold. "Ah si, ben mio" was sung truly beautifully and deserved it applause. After Di Quella Pira, the audience was applauding, but not so much for the aria, but for the whole scene that was also a triumph for Veronica Villarroel.

This Leonora, Veronica Villlarroel, was an absolute joy to see and listen to. A breath-taking "Tacea la notte placida", and among other a wonderful Leonora in scene from the tower, like "Tu vedrai che amore in terra" and the duet with Vladimir Chernov/di Luna. And naturally in the end of the opera. Everywhere Veronica Villarroel was, was the high class of singing and acting. Conte di Luna = Vladimir Chernov had power and class in his singing and in acting, too. With all that inside, one longed for him singing a positive role, for once. And he was so nice afterwards at the stage door. Veronica Villarroel and Yvonne Naef was also nice, and had Jose Cura had more time (he had other engagements that evening), but he was still gorgeous and polite.