Adriana Lecouvreur

While I slightly prefer the 1976 Adriana Lecouvreur with Caballe, this La Scala production is still stunning. I like the opera very much, the story is touching and the music is beautiful. The orchestra play wonderfully, and the conducting is assured and very musical. The costumes and sets are handsome, and the video directing above average. The performances from the cast are equally as stunning as the production. Mirella Freni is not at her best, but she is a very convincing actress and her beautiful voice and musicianship is still intact making her performance very moving. Peter Dvorsky is good and dashing, but while he is mostly ardent vocally some of his high notes sound forced to me. Fiorenza Cossotto is excellent, like Freni she is not at her best, but her voice shows great dramatic skill and her acting is excellent. Ivor Vinco and Ernesto Gavazzi excel also, as does Alessandro Cassis who brings nuance and pathos to Michonnet. Overall, a stunning Adriana. 10/10 Bethany Cox