Search - Ponchielli, Zanchetti, Zuin :: II Figliuol / Melodramma in 4 Atti

Great to have it, but....

B. Cathey | Wendell, NC United States | 04/27/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I wish I could give this Bongiovanni release 5 stars, but I can't. Indeed, I struggled to give it 4 stars....nevertheless, the opera IL FIGILIUOL PRODIGO is an important opera, with some real flashes of genius, entirely deserving of revival, and so, despite my criticisms (that will follow), I must recommend this release.



Bongiovanni has now given us a good deal of Ponchielli opera (MARION DELORME was recorded by Accord with a superb cast, but it's difficult to find in the USA). I LITUANI (the best sung of their series) was a RAI broadcast; the others (I PROMESSI SPOSI, I MORI DI VALENZA) are productions put together by Bongiovanni, with varying degrees of success.



IL FIGILIUOL may be the best opera of the lot. The 4th Act contains some of Ponchielli's best music, include a superb introductory intermezzo and the scena/aria "Tenda natale," made famous by Carrerras, Villazon, and others (it's certainly as moving as "Cielo e mar" from LA GIOCONDA).



The problem is that, like the I PROMESSI SPOSI and I MORI, the performance is a bit ragged. There is little feel of ensemble. The tenor lead tends to sing flat on occasion. He manages well enough in Act IV and with "Tenda natale," but even so, I came away with the feeling that there was/is much more that could be had from this opera, if it were given with a better cast.



Accounts of the opera's premiere at La Scala, headed by Tamagno, talk of the brilliance of the score and the superb vocalism. IL FIGLIUOL demands that kind of attention. Even so, even with a somewhat ragged performance, Act IV breaks through in its brilliance and beauty.



I recommend this release, with all my caveats; but I hope this will inspire future investigations and performances of what is truly a great opera."