I due Foscari

I don't consider I Due Foscari one of Verdi's best, the story is not one of the most interesting of Verdi's operas and it has a slow start, however the music is wonderful as you would expect from Verdi, I have come to the conclusion that no other opera composer beat Verdi in writing father/daughter duets.

This production is marvellous. I also highly recommend the 1977 audio recording with Piero Cappuccilli, Katia Ricciarelli, Jose Carreras and Samuel Ramey, and perhaps rate it higher than this, but for those who are interested in being introduced to a not great but underrated opera such as I Due Foscari should look no further than this production.

Visually this 1988 La Scala production looks great. The costumes are gorgeous and the sets are more than adequate. The camera work is interesting, the picture quality is sharp and clear and the sound does justice to the orchestra and the singers.

Musically, the production is also outstanding. The music itself is definitely noteworthy, and the orchestra play beautifully throughout particularly in the viola/cello duet introducing act 3. The chorus are also strong, with good pitch, diction and balance and they make an effort to look animated. Gavazzeni commands them with style and authority.

The staging is commendable, it does its best to make the opera and action interesting without it ever being forced or static, and it succeeds. The lead performances are truly excellent. Alberto Cupido is rather wooden here as Jacopo even in his act 2 Mad scene, but his singing is very good. Luigi Roni is as commanding as ever.

Every bit as good, in fact even I feel, are Linda Roark-Strummer whose strong voice and compelling acting really draws you into the difficult role of Lucrezia, and especially Renato Bruson who is both majestic and heart-breaking in the lead role and he shows off his rich velvety voice so well as always.

Overall, marvellous. 10/10 Bethany Cox