Rossini - Barber of Seville
Florez; DiDonato et al; Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Pappano
Virgin 694 5819 (2DVD)

Release date July 2010

What a privilege to be able to view this DVD! There is a sense of occasion right from the start: conductor Antonio Pappano strides onto the stage to announce that Joyce DiDonato will be singing from a wheel-chair, thanks to breaking a bone in her foot on the opening night. In typically relaxed style, Pappano intimates he’s not quite sure how things will go - but the show must go on, and it certainly does. The splendid casting is responsible for several larger-than-life performances, with Alessandro Corbelli a suitably odious Doctor Bartolo and Ferrucio Furlanetto an overwhelming Don Basilio - and agile with it, as shown by his Act I antics. The sense of drama suffers little from the enforced changes in stage directions; only one scene in the second act seems somewhat contrived, and DiDonato's acting performance is anything but static. As she has said, 'Being trapped in the wheelchair was a quite literal way of demonstrating Rosina's huge desire to break free'. As for her singing, it is as spectacular as ever. Pietro Spagnoli makes for an immensely likeable Barber, and Juan Diego Florez is on top form as Count Almaviva. The staging is minimal but effective, the costume colours are vibrant, and the whole production is highly entertaining, raising countless laughs. This DVD is unbelievably good value at £13.99.

Reviewed by Anne McAlister