Villi - DVD

Le Villi is an opera-ballet in two acts that marked Giacomo Puccini's debut in the world of opera. It was first staged at Teatro dal Verme in Milan in 1884. Librettist Ferdinando Fontana based the story on the ancient legend of the Willis, fantastic creatures representing the souls of young women who were the victims of love. Anna and Roberto are engaged, but during a trip the man is seduced by a woman and his fiancée dies of heartbreak. Roberto, who is by then abandoned and left penniless, is haunted by remorse and attacked by the revengeful fairies and Anna's ghost. All the elements of the more mature Puccini are already recognizable the characters of Anna and Roberto anticipate the Inchlove victimInch and the Inchman without qualitiesInch archetypes of his later operas, whereas some of the composer's touches of harmony and aria structure foresee his future success. This rare work was chosen to open the 2018-2019 season of Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and the performance received very good reviews. InchLe Villi is an opera full of excellent music, where Puccini's future grandeur is already recognizable. This production mingles essentiality, intelligence and youthInch (Gbopera. It) InchConductor Marco Angius delivers a fierce and passionate performance and under his baton the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is able to convey all the various shades of the score. Inch (Gbopera. It)

L'occasione fa il ladro ('Opportunity Makes a Thief') was composed by the young Rossini in just eleven days, working alongside his librettist Luigi Prividali. The tale presents a comedy of multiple confusions in one act. Count Alberto, travelling to marry a fiancée he has yet to meet, leaves an inn with the wrong suitcase. Left holding the Count's papers and possessions, Don Parmenione audaciously adopts Alberto's identity intent on taking the bride for himself. Jochen Schönleber's acclaimed production adapts Rossini's swift and deftly plotted moral drama to give present-day relevance to Rossini's exuberant ensemble burletta.

Niccolo Jommelli was an innovative superstar among composers in his day, and is now recognized as a precursor of the new Viennese Classical taste in music. With it's intense story of love, life and death, Il Vologeso sets one of the most powerful libretti written for the European opera stage. This critically acclaimed production is considered to be it's first staged performance for over two centuries, and the highly successful opera directors Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito have revived a Baroque gem with their exciting, present-day staging.