Haydn - Lo Speziale (Marc Andreae) [2003 / 1982]

Haydn conducted the first performance in 1768. This 5 star plus production was staged at the Congress Palace, Lugano in 1982. However as a dvd I give it 4 stars as no? subtitles. German subtitles show in the menu but I am unable to raise them. Any help???. The fine Libretto in Italian is by Carlo Goldoni. The acting is superb, the body language great. In fact one of the best is an extra apprentice who has no lines at all. The singing is excellent throughout and Griletta (Antonella Manotti) has a very fine voice and technique. The staging is one of the finest I have ever seen. The camera starts focussed on the room of the apothecary and via 2 doors at right angles moves to the garden on the right and the same to the left to the house entrance. At no time is the whole stage shown and this gives the impression of 3 different sets. Very clever!. My experience of 4 decades of roaming the world watching opera is that very very often the lesser known theatres can do the best productions. I therefore should not have been surprised at the quality of this production (1982), and the video and audio. The story line has many similarities to the Barber of Seville. A great evenings entertainment.

By Mrs. E. A. Ruiterman