by William Fratti | Fabienne Winkler – On the podium Maestro Corrado Rovaris, a work of considerable interest with a grandiose score.
November 24, 2023. Before bringing this young man's title back to light and putting it back on stage Donizetti, no one would have ever imagined such a grandiose score. Far from being a masterpiece, Alfred the Great today it is a work of considerable interest, since behind the unlikely, meaningless and rather boring story, there are hidden pages of significant effect, even difficult to perform, which give a glimpse of the great composer who Donizetti it will be soon.
The main author of this success is undoubtedly Corrado Rovaris who, at the helm of the Donizetti Opera Orchestra, is a master of accent and style and knows how to give character to drama with broad sounds and fast-paced rhythms. Very good also for the Hungarian Radio Choir led by Zoltán Pad.
The protagonist is entrusted to the undisputed bel canto voice of Antonino Siragusa, who masters the role with great ease, despite being faced with some pages of considerable difficulty. He is joined by the equally talented Amalia of Guild River, grappling with a part that is certainly not simpler. The two artists dominate the scene musically and dramaturgically, also through a certain expressiveness, although the words of the libretto cannot make the undertaking easy.
Very good also for Eduardo di Lodovico Filippo Ravizza and the Atkins Adolfo Corrado.
The show of Stefano Simone Pintor has some good ideas developed around biblioclasm, as if to underline the oppressors' desire to completely eliminate the culture of the oppressed. Also interesting for the story are the projections which in some moments recall the songs of deeds, here to highlight the epic character of Alfredo.
William Fratti | Fabienne Winkler
Alfred the Great
Drama to music by Andrea Leone Tottola
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Alfredo Antonino Siragusa
Amalia Guild River
Eduardo Lodovico Filippo Ravizza
Atkins Adolfo Corrado
Enrichetta Valeria Girardello
Margherita Floriana Cicìo*
Guglielmo Antonio Gares
Rivers Andres Agudelo
*Pupil of the Donizetti Workshop
Orchestra Donizetti Opera
Hungarian Radio Choir
Choir Master Zoltán Pad
Director Corrado Rovaris
Director Stefano Simone Pintor
Scene Gregorio Zurla
Costumes Giada Masi
Light designer Fiammetta Baldiserri
Video designer Virginia Levrio
Assistant director Veronica Bolognani
PHOTO: Gianfranco Rota