Il Ritorno D'Ulisse In Patria - Monteverdi (DVD)

...3 of his survive today. Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria (The Return of Ulysses to His Homeland) is the 2nd oldest, having premiered in 1640.

Ancient masterpieces age like fine wine. Musically this opera is full of simple beauties. The only scores that exist contain the vocal lines and the bass (continuo) line.... and that's it. The rest of the orchestration is interpolated. I think Nikolaus Harnoncourt does a marvelous job at that, ...
.../> Unlike later Baroque opera, there is no show-stopping aria, but the music is very drama-oriented, moving very smoothly from each arias and ensemble pieces. The opera proper is preceded by an allegorical prologue that tells of the fragility of man against the will of the gods.

The STORY occurs after the Trojan War. Ulisse (Ulysseus) the Greek has been missing for 20 years during his journey home to Ithaca, where his steadfast wife ... more

Claudio Monteverdi is widely regarded as the father of opera. Only 3 of his survive today. Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria (The Return of Ulysses to His Homeland) is the 2nd oldest, having premiered in 1640.

Ancient masterpieces age like fine wine. Musically this opera is full of simple beauties. The only scores that exist contain the vocal lines and the bass (continuo) line.... and that's it. The rest of the orchestration is interpolated. I think Nikolaus Harnoncourt does a marvelous job at that, and the period instruments orchestra delivers beautifully.

Unlike later Baroque opera, there is no show-stopping aria, but the music is very drama-oriented, moving very smoothly from each arias and ensemble pieces. The opera proper is preceded by an allegorical prologue that tells of the fragility of man against the will of the gods.

The STORY occurs after the Trojan War. Ulisse (Ulysseus) the Greek has been missing for 20 years during his journey home to Ithaca, where his steadfast wife Penelope has been saving herself waiting for his return despite being actively courted by other Greek kings. With the help of the goddess Minerva, Ulisse arrives home in disguise as an old beggar just in time to participate in the challenge cooked up by Penelope's 3 suitors that anyone who can fit the arrow to Ulisse's bow would win Penelope's hand. If you want to know the rest, you can watch the DVD. ;o)

CAST:
Human Fragility/ Ullise (King of Ithaca) = Dietrich Henschel (Baritone)
Penelope (Queen of Ithaca, Ulisse’s wife) = Vesselina Kasarova (Mezzo-soprano/Contralto)
Ericlea (Royal nursemaid) = Cornelia Kallisch (Soprano)
Melanto (Penelope's maid ) = Malin Hartelius (Soprano)
Telemaco (Eldest son of Ulisse) = Jonas Kaufmann (Tenor)
Eurimaco (Younger son of Ulisse) = Peter Widmer (Tenor)
Minerva/Amore (Goddesses) = Isabel Rey(Soprano)
Nettuno (Neptune) = Pavel Daniluk (bass)
Iro(Eros) = Rudolf Schasching
Giove (Jupitor) = Anton Scharinger (Baritone)
Tempo (Time) = Giuseppe Scorsin
Anfinimo (Fortune) = Martin Oro

Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducting the Orchestra la Scintilla of the Opernhaus Zuerich
Stage Director ::: Klaus - Michael Grueber

Well, leave it to opera composers to make short stories long. Even with so many cuts, this thing takes 155 minutes to unwind (no earthquake scene, Ulisse's meeting with his eldest son Telemaco is shortened, etc). But the minimalistic and somewhat modernized staging here is very effective at telling the story. The characters are in the early 1900's clothing and not in toga, but the lone white washed house on the plain stage puts the action effectively at an isolated Greek seashore. There are some curiosities, like the 3 suitors being marionette dolls, but at least they are well integrated to the story telling.

The musical performance is simply exquisite, especially for the 2 leads;

VESSELINA KASAROVA's 'Penelope' is in total control of her voice, which seems to blossom in the lower part of her range. Even in really low passages she keeps her voice light and very agile. Beautiful floats and very refine in her singing. Absolutely perfect in this regal role. Her choreography is quite stylized, but works nicely in this mythical opera.

The young baritone DIETRICH HENSCHEL is equally wonderful both as Human Fragility and as Ulisse. His noble sounding voice is not big, but carries. And his acting is as commanding as his singing.

All the minor roles are well sung and act, with special notice to the Ericlea of soprano CORNELIA KALLISCH, a sterling voice and engaging Melanto of soprano MALIN HARTELIUS, the playful Minerva of soprano ISABEL REY, and Telemaco of tenor JONAS KAUFMANN.

This opera is more of an ensemble show that emphasis sensitive and poetic singing rather than florid virtuosity. And under the guidance of Maestro Harnoncourt, the singers are real team players and deliver the piece sensitively and poetically and make the long show seem much shorter than it really is.

All in all... this is the best DVD of this opera available to date. Highly recommended.

1 DVD. Sung in Italian with subtitles in Italian, German, English, French and Spanish. 

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