This is a welcome opportunity to see Il Trittico in its entirety. It was originally written for the Met and perhaps only the Met these days has the money and the resources to put on these three short operas in one evening. Puccini's agent warned him that the pieces would be performed out of context and that is how it has proved to be.
The most successful of the three pieces is Gianni Schicchi. It is often performed on its own or in a pairing with some other one act opera. It is a brilliant ensemble piece and the New York cast do it full justice, particularly Alessandro Corbelli as Schicchi. I have seen three productions of this piece and Corbelli has played the title role in all of them. This production is, more that usual, a love letter to Florence with the final, brief, scene depicting a panoramic view of Florence as seen from Fiesole.
The evening starts with Il Tabarro, a melodrama set on a French Barge. Maria Guleghina impresses in the verismo role of Giorgetta. As her lover, Luigiu, tenor Salvatore Licitra reveals hidden depths. I rarely find him believable in heroic roles but, here, he makes a convincing longshoreman with his typical tenor barrel-chest and stubby neck making him look strangely handsome.
The middle section is the rarely performed Suor Angelica. When you see it you understand why. The first half, depicting everyday life in a nunnery is Sound of Music-lite. Barbara Frittoli plays a theologically challenged nun who takes poison so that she can be reunited with her infant son in heaven. Too late she realises that suicides go straight to Hell so she will not be seeing her son this side of eternity. It is worth sticking with because, at the climax Frittoli gets to tear off her wimple and has some thrilling music as she thrashes around on the ground begging the Virgin Mary to intercede for her. One for devout Catholics only, I fear.
Stage Director Steve Ruggi introduces the evening by saying that the triptych depicts Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. I think it would be more accurate to say that it is three meditations on Hell. Giorgetta in Il Trittico endures a living Hell with her elderly husband. Suor Angelica escapes Hell by the intervention of the Virgin Mary. Gianni Schicchi forges a will to everyone's satisfaction but is condemned to Hell for his pains.
The most successful of the three pieces is Gianni Schicchi. It is often performed on its own or in a pairing with some other one act opera. It is a brilliant ensemble piece and the New York cast do it full justice, particularly Alessandro Corbelli as Schicchi. I have seen three productions of this piece and Corbelli has played the title role in all of them. This production is, more that usual, a love letter to Florence with the final, brief, scene depicting a panoramic view of Florence as seen from Fiesole.
The evening starts with Il Tabarro, a melodrama set on a French Barge. Maria Guleghina impresses in the verismo role of Giorgetta. As her lover, Luigiu, tenor Salvatore Licitra reveals hidden depths. I rarely find him believable in heroic roles but, here, he makes a convincing longshoreman with his typical tenor barrel-chest and stubby neck making him look strangely handsome.
The middle section is the rarely performed Suor Angelica. When you see it you understand why. The first half, depicting everyday life in a nunnery is Sound of Music-lite. Barbara Frittoli plays a theologically challenged nun who takes poison so that she can be reunited with her infant son in heaven. Too late she realises that suicides go straight to Hell so she will not be seeing her son this side of eternity. It is worth sticking with because, at the climax Frittoli gets to tear off her wimple and has some thrilling music as she thrashes around on the ground begging the Virgin Mary to intercede for her. One for devout Catholics only, I fear.
Stage Director Steve Ruggi introduces the evening by saying that the triptych depicts Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. I think it would be more accurate to say that it is three meditations on Hell. Giorgetta in Il Trittico endures a living Hell with her elderly husband. Suor Angelica escapes Hell by the intervention of the Virgin Mary. Gianni Schicchi forges a will to everyone's satisfaction but is condemned to Hell for his pains.
