L'incoronazione di Poppea, Dramma musicale in one prologue and three acts

'L'Incoronazione Di Poppea' is my personal favourite of Monteverdi's three surviving operas, the others being 'L'Orfeo' and 'Il Rittorno D'Ulisse', though am very fond of all three. It is compelling dramatically and Monteverdi, an important composer when it came to the development of opera with the transition from Renaissance to baroque always knew how to write gorgeous music that not only sounded beautiful but had soul.

The DVD competition is a very solid one and generally it is one of the more consistent DVD competitions for any opera, and this is meant in a good way. A lot of operas have been ill-served by very problematic productions, some downright pretty bad, but 'L'Incoronazione Di Poppea' is a rare example of all the productions available from personal opinion being well worth watching and above. This Madrid performance overall is not one of the best available on DVD productions, to me it's one of the lesser ones while still being a good performance, though it does contain some of the best singing and musical values of all the productions. It won't be everybody's cup of tea but there was a lot to like here.

Did feel that there were a few oddities here and there. The costumes are a bit drab and Nerone's make-up is an acquired taste, seeming to make a point about the type of character Nerone is but over-emphasising it a bit too much.

Hanna Bayodi-Hirt struck me as somewhat too old and mature for the cupid Amore, with the character specified in the opera as a boy it jarred a bit. Max Emmanuel Cencic initially didn't seem completely comfortable as Ottone, though he does improve quickly and significantly.

All this aside, the production was very good. The sets are simple but handled inventively and did not look unappealing. The lighting has atmosphere and the video directing is never too static or busy. The staging is throughout compelling, nothing comes over as static and nothing looks chaotic either, while also being mostly tasteful. "Addio Roma" is poignantly intimate and the chemistry between Phillippe Jaroussky and Danielle DeNiese is transfixing, with a mix of tender, intense and sensual.

Musically, the production is superb. The orchestra are easily heard while also authentic and that it is a not big and intricate ensemble was a good decision and appropriate. The players are alert to the drama and also sympathetic towards it. William Christie's conducting plays a large part in this, very incisive and nuanced.

Excepting initial reservations with Cencic dramatically, the performances are without complaint. Jaroussky is one of the best Nerones on DVD, an enthralling portrayal with the right amount of command and intensity with no over or under playing. His singing is highly musical and it is pure and rings like a bell, showing no signs of fatigue or straining. He is more than perfectly matched by DeNeise's, beautiful singing too as always, vivacious, fiery and intelligent Poppea. Anna Bonitatibus is very moving as Ottavia, especially in "Addio Roma". Antonio Abete sings nobly and acts Seneca with authority and sincerity. Cencic cannot be faulted vocally and once settled his acting is fully committed. Jose Lemos has fun as Nutrice and there are fine portrayals of Drusilla and Arnalta.

Overall, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I'd only seen one other production of this opera, with Alice Coote as Nerone; I liked it but this has a better cast. Jaroussky really makes an impression as Nerone, singing in a really inspired way, while de Niese proves once more she has few rivals in baroque opera. Nerone's dead white makeup may take a bit of getting used to, but I was fine with it.