Mozart - Il sogno di Scipione (Robin Ticciati) [2006]

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Mozart - Il sogno di Scipione (Robin Ticciati) [2006]

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We have here the exception to the traditional "M 22" rule (M22 refers to the collection of complete Mozart operas taped by Deutsche Grammophon in Salzburg last summer, and now available on DVD) whereby regardless of the stage production, the musical quality remains very strong. In this "Sogno", it is the other way round. The production is smart, witty, transposed in the 1920s, and always ALWAYS keep the interest of the audience high…this is necessary because Sogno has few participants, very little action, and a rather thin plot: while dreaming, a Roman general has to choose between Fortune and Constancy. In this inszienerung, Scipio becomes an everyday guy, stuck between two very beautiful women. The concept of the dream is maintained throughout the performance, and enables stage director Michael Sturminger to introduce surreal scenes into this "Sogno", like the grandfather singing while still dead, or the surprising ending (but I won't give that way, that would spoil it). So overall the interest is maintained throughout clearly thanks to the work of Sturminger and team but also thanks to Mozart's music, well detailed by Robin Ticciati and his Karntner orchestra…The problem is that the singing is not up to the task.
Let's be clear here: "Il Sogno di Scipione" is thankless Mozart, every aria is about seven minutes long, all of them have endless ornaments and coloraturas, making them extremely pleasing to hear but virtually impossible to sing…and here it is fair to say that the team of singers does not deliver the goods. Blacoj Nacoski cannot sing Scipio: he shouldn't be discouraged though, even Peter Schreier couldn't sing it…but he has problems in the coloraturas and suffers in the higher register. His "grandfather" in the piece, Iain Paton, has exactly the same problem. The ladies have vocal problems too. Both Louise Fribo and Bernarda Bobro suffer through their arias, they manage to go through them, but I did feel more relieved (that they made it) than charmed…All this is a bit workman-like. This is a shame, because both are very talented actresses, very believable…and very good-looking too. Overall, it is very difficult to recommend an opera when the three main singers are not particularly impressive, but this performance is largely salvaged by a fun, innovative production…Interestingly enough, Sturminger got a standing ovation from the audience, while the applause for the two main female characters was somewhat more mixed, to say the least. Eventually, a 3-star rating, thanks to the production.By Autonome

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Mozart - Il sogno di Scipione (Robin Ticciati) [2006]

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