Barbara Haveman (Hélène); Burkhard Fritz (Henri); Alejandro Marco-Buhrmester (Guy de Montfort); Balint Szabo (Jean Procida)
Les vêpres siciliennes, like the similarly epic Don Carlos, was conceived as a grand opéra for Paris and is driven by the tensions between private passions and public politics. Originally set during Sicily’s 13th-century uprising against French rule, in Christof Loy’s staging for the Netherlands Opera the action is transposed to a 1940s world of sudden violence and shadowy double-dealing. Imaginatively cast and idiomatically conducted, the performance presents this magnificent score in its entirety, including the allegorical ballet The Four Seasons.
Number of Discs:
2
Sound:
2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS
Subtitles:
EN, FR, DE, ES
Aspect Ratio:
16:9 Anamorphic
Reviews
“Alejandro Marco-Buhrmeister succeeds in evoking our sympathy in ‘Au sein de la puissance’. The lovers sing tenderly; but what stands out in their Act 2 duet is some exquisite phrasing in the strings…There are a few cuts, including the cabaletta of Procida’s ‘Et toi, Palerme’, but it’s a worthwhile addition to the modest number of French grand operas on DVD.” (Gramophone)
“The Netherlands Opera Chorus … remains one of the most musically and dramatically responsive among major companies.” (International Record Review)
Extra features
Cast gallery. Introductory film.