Bianca E Faliero is not one of Rossini's best. Of course the music is just wonderful, no surprise as this is Rossini we're talking about here, but the story is rather stock and tired. For anybody who wants to see or hear the opera to form an opinion of it, look no further than this production from Pesaro. The stage itself is very minimal which occasionally makes the larger ensembles a little too cluttered, but other than that it is an excellent production and should be seen for much more than just a curiosity(being the only DVD of Bianca E Faliero available).
The costumes and sets look beautiful, almost having a jewel-box theatre effect, one that suits Rossini performance style in my opinion. The stage direction does a noble job of making the drama more interesting than it is, not an easy feat and it mostly succeeds excepting that for the chorus. The quartet in the trial scene is the highlight. The video directing and sound are very good also, unobtrusive and clear. The orchestral playing is rich in texture yet stylish in articulation, the chorus while rather remote because the drama gives them little to do(the fault of the opera not the production) sing and balance wonderfully and the conducting shows an understanding for Rossini's style.
Maria Bayo gives one of her most assured vocal performances, it positively soars and her colouratura and technique are both accurate and confident. She is a charming actress as well. Francesco Meli does a fine job as the cruel father figure. Made to look and act older than he actually is, he sings with a great ring- if at times too beautiful-sounding though not so much that he makes it too clear that the role played is done by someone much younger- and good vocal expression, and he is commanding on stage. Best of all was Daniella Barcelona, she is convincingly masculine with a warm and firmly produced contralto voice, as well as solid intonation and she blends very well in ensembles.
Overall, excellent, both as a production and an introduction to an opera I imagine is unknown to a lot of people, even life-long opera enthusiasts like me. 9/10 Bethany Cox
