Rodelinda

Rodelinda is one of Handel's finest operas, and this is an excellent production. I do marginally prefer the 1998 Glyndebourne production as the production values are more lavish than the sometimes stark and perhaps occasionally too promiscuous ones here, and the staging here has a couple of touches that I'd deem a little silly such as Garibaldo forcing Bertarido into the trunk of a car after the duet Io T'Abraccio that Glyndebourne did not have(apart from that though the staging is actually quite good, dignified and moving mostly). However, this production has warmer sound quality and has more of a sense that you are watching a live performance. Both though are superior to the recent Met production, which was well constructed and performed but never felt like Handel, something both these productions succeed in being so. The orchestral playing is stylish and affecting to say the least, and the conducting is brisk and assured with an understanding for Handel's style. The performances are great, with only Christopher Robson's strained Unulfo disappointing, even if his acting is splendid. Michael Chance on the whole as Bertarido sings beautifully and has an excellent dramatic ability, reminding me of why I like his Ottone(L'Incoronazione Di Poppea) so much. I may find Andreas Scholl for Glyndebourne more refined, but Chance still gives a great performance regardless. If there is a performance I prefer here to Glyndebourne, it's Dorothea Roschmann, Anna Caterina Antonacci is excellent for Glydebourne, but I find Roschmann's Rodelinda more emotionally intense and dignified. Felicity Palmer is as ever excellent as Eudige, very accurate singing and a very characterful interpretation. Umberto Chiummo gives the impression both for Glyndebourne and here that he loves the role of Garibaldo as he sings and acts the heck out of it and is such a joy to watch. Paul Nilon doesn't have my favourite of all vocal sounds, sometimes a little thin with too much vibrato though he mostly sings very nicely, characterises Grimoaldo well.

Overall though, the production is excellent. 9/10 Bethany Cox