L'incoronazione di Poppea

L'incoronazione di Poppea (1984) (TV) is a BBC opera directed by Peter Hall and Robin Lough. It was composed by Claudio Monteverdi. Monteverdi was a key figure in the transition between Renaissance music and Baroque music. Opera became an important art form during his lifetime, partially because he was a master at setting music that would support the words of the text.

Between his first opera, Orfeo in 1607, and Poppea in 1643, Monteverdi himself progressed to opera that was not just plays spoken with music, but plays that contained beautiful arias. Arias abound in Poppea.

Monteverdi was born in 1567, so 2017 is the 450th anniversary of his birth. Many companies around the world are performing Monteverdi this year, so you can probably find a live performance somewhere in your area. If not, this film will be a good substitute.

Sir Peter Hall was probably the most prominent English stage director of the 20th Century. Usually, his name was preceded by the adjective "controversial." He certainly took artistic risks. However, I don't think his staging of Poppea was outside the norm. The brilliant soprano Maria Ewing sings the title role. (She was married to Hall at the time.)

Ewing is not only famous for her voice, but also for her beauty and lack of inhibitions. Ewing's beauty was legendary. By 1984, there was no lack of beautiful opera singers. However, no one else could compare to Ewing's exotic beauty. The display of her charms was relatively modest in this opera. (Check out her performance of the Dance of the Seven Veils from the opera Salome on YouTube.)

This is a wonderful movie with a large, impressive cast, beautiful sets, and great production values. We are going to see the opera live in a few days in a student production at Rochester's Eastman School of Music. It won't be Glyndebourne, where this film was produced. However, ESM is one of the best music schools in the world. For all we know, the next Maria Ewing will be performing there.

'L'Incoronazione Di Poppea' is a masterpiece not just of Renaissance opera but of opera overall. May find myself moved a little more by 'L'Orfeo's' story, but what makes 'L'Incoronazione Di Poppea' so good other than the wonderful music is its sardonic irony and the poetic, intimate and very lively plot, which further benefits from being structured so masterfully.

To me, as good as the Jean-Pierre Ponelle/Harnencourt, Cynthia Hayman, Richard Croft, Ann Sofie Von Otter and Danielle De Niese productions are, this 1984 Glyndebourne performance has always been the best available on DVD, and one that inexplicably I managed to accidentally forget to review for a long time. In fact, 'L'Incoronazione Di Poppea' is one of the rare examples of an opera that doesn't have a bad DVD production to its name.

Visually, the production does look good. The costumes are more attractive than most other productions available, while the sets are sumptuous and atmospheric. There are numerous set changes and it doesn't feel too much, nor does it interrupt the flow of the production in order to change them. The only small gripe is the slightly grainy picture quality, but only the picky will find it an issue. The video directing is fluid and intimate and the sound is excellent.

Staging is compelling, capturing throughout the opera's sensuality, melancholic nature, intimacy and sardonic irony. A narratively and thematically complex opera given emotionally complex staging as ought.

Musically, the production is unmatched on DVD, even if the 1994 production with Cynthia Hayman and Michael Chance is musically more historically informed. The orchestral playing is lively and poetic, and the chorus are on fine form vocally and dramatically. The conducting is accommodating to the performers but also alive to the drama.

All the performances are nigh on perfect, with top honours being Maria Ewing's outstanding (beautifully sung and fully immersed in the role) Poppea and Cynthia Clary's hauntingly moving Ottavia. Dale Duessing is an authoritative and rich voiced Ottone, likewise with Robert Lloyd as a noble and vocally sturdy Seneca. Dennis Bailey brings much intensity to Nero while not possessing the most beautiful voice at first (one however does warm to it). Elizabeth Gale is a fine Drusilla, and all the supporting roles are well taken.

In conclusion, performances of Monteverdi don't get much better than this superb in every way production. 10/10 Bethany Cox