By William Fratti – Cilea's melodrama returns to Parma after more than forty years with a staging, in co-production with Modena and Piacenza, full of strengths and weaknesses. –
Francesco Cilea's most famous melodrama returns to Parma after more than forty years with a staging, in co-production with Modena and Piacenza, full of strengths and weaknesses.
Starting from the top we find the splendid Maria Teresa Leva who plays the role of an enchanting Adriana. Her soft and full-bodied voice, bright treble, touching yarns.
Likewise is Claudio Sgura, Michonnet, a true professional of realism. Less effective is Maurizio by Riccardo Massi. He has a nice color and good intentions, but the attacks aren't always clean and the treble doesn't ring forward, with the result that he is often below his colleagues.
Sonia Ganassi's princess is also not the best, as the difference between the registers is very audible. Surely on her side there is a great deal of experience and an indisputable intelligence.
The rest of the cast was satisfactory with Adriano Gramigni (prince), Saverio Pugliese (abbot), Stefano Consolini (Poisson), Steponas Zonys (Quinalt), Vittoriana De Amicis (Jouvenot), Carlotta Vichi (Dangeville), Damiano Lombardo (butler).
Also unconvincing is the direction of Francesco Ivan Ciampa, with few colors and an often opaque volume.
Italo Nunziata's show is rather provincial, giving nothing, but fortunately not taking away either. The scenes by Emanuele Sinisi and the lights by Fiammetta Baldisseri are not bad. The costumes by Artemio Cabassi are beautiful, even if a greater characterization of the colors of the protagonists would have been preferred, for example by avoiding both wearing blue, one in the second and the other in the third act. Not to forget the choreography by Danilo Rubeca.
The Emilia Romagna Arturo Toscanini Orchestra and the Choir of the Teatro Regio di Parma led by Martino Faggiani were quite good.
William Fratti
Photo Royal Theater of Parma
ADRIANA LECOUVREUR by Francesco Cilea
Maurizio RICCARDO MASSIThe Prince of Bouillon ADRIANO GRAMIGNIThe abbot of Chazeuil SAVERIO PUGLIESEMichonnet CLAUDIO SGURAPoisson STEFANO CONSOLINIQuinault STEPHEN ZONYSAdriana Lecouvreur MARIA TERESA LEVAThe Princess of Bouillon SONIA GANASSIMiss Jouvenot VITTORIANA DE AMICISMademoiselle Dangeville CARLOTTA VICHIA butler DAMIANO LOMBARDOConcertmaster and conductorFRANCESCO IVAN CIAMPADirectorITALO NUNZIATASceneEMANUELE SINISICostumesARTEMIO CABASSIChoreographer and assistant directorDANILO RUBECALightsFIAMMETTA BALDISSERILighting assistant Oscar FrosioORCHESTRA OF EMILIA ROMAGNA ARTURO TOSCANINICHOIR OF THE REGIO THEATER OF PARMAChoir master MARTINO FAGGIANINew staging of the Teatro Regio in ParmaIn co-production with the Teatro Comunale of Modenaand Municipal Theater of Piacenza