Reseñas de producciones pasadas
4La joven Lara Diloy es una de las pocas directoras de orquesta españolas del circuito actual y posee un amplio conocimiento del repertorio sinfónico y operístico como quedó bien demostrado en esta representación. Siempre pendiente de los cantantes, supo imprimir a la orquesta el brío y la chispa que caracteriza esta obra. Se pudieron apreciar los delicados matices en la orquestación de una partitura de inspiración clásica, como lo es esta. Diloy demostró al frente de la Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid, esa seguridad que solo es fruto del trabajo y el talento.
La joven Lara Diloy se puso al frente de la orquesta de cuerdas que destinó Penella para esta partitura logrando que las notas del músico valenciano sonasen desde el mismo preludio orquestal con todo su encanto y evanescencia, pues, junto al arpa de Laura Hernández, las diferentes secciones brillaron tersas con una cuerda grave de gran hondura. Un aseado trabajo al servicio de las voces en lo que ha sido una oportunidad, como la de Irene Palazón, enormemente aprovechada.
The direction of Andrea Marcon, always lively, attentive, without unnecessary excesses and with great intention in the instrumental fragments. Marcon's operatic work does not seem to attract attention in recent years, but he is probably one of the Mediterranean conductors who best caters to 18th century musical writing in terms of vocal accompaniment, and he knows how that orchestral chrysalis has to be woven together to that allows the singer to project, fill and move without losing an iota of grace. The orchestra did what it could, rude in the attacks and without the timbral or the precise dynamic detail, but taking into account the position in which it was, it was not an obstacle to the enjoyment of the excellent music of Boccherini.
Daniel Bianco’s settings, with their sliding lattices and Persian arches, are surprisingly close to the 1923 originals, replacing painted backcloths with equally colourful modern back projections. Is this, I wonder, his olive branch to traditional audiences, or a tongue-in-cheek exercise in post-modernism? No matter: paired with Gabriela Salaverri’s bold, technicolour diaphony of costumes and Albert Faura’s poetic lighting (some of the best I’ve seen at Teatro de la Zarzuela) they cook up an enchanting visual soufflé. The Good is the choreographed, musical-theatre style staging of the musical numbers, fluid and wittily in period. Viana also plays the ‘first comedian’ role of Abedul, with unexpectedly quiet, self-absorbed whimsy, rather than the verbal and physical skills we expect in such roles. Francisco J. Sánchez is a well-projected captain of the Janissaries, Gerardo Bullón and Gerardo López contrast drolly as the ‘butch’ and ‘fem’ suitors for Benamor’s hand (their catchy entry number is deliciously moved by Castejón). Irene Palazón’s lustily forthright Netetis reminds me of a young Amelia Font – easy to bring to mind when the original is also here, breezily strutting her stuff as the royals’ mother, Pantea. How nice to see her back where she belongs. Emilio Sánchez is another blessedly familiar face, precise and characterful as ever, in the role of the slave-trader Babilón. Esther Ruiz, in the acting role of the harem slave Cachemira, provides one of the show’s edgiest moments when breaking away terror-stricken from Princess Benamor’s unexpectedly ardent embraces. The outstanding vocalist on the night was undoubtedly Carol García, whose creamy mezzo-soprano is in demand throughout Europe, for everything from baroque to modern opera. Her gentle presence and touching confusion of identity kept her ‘Sultan’ Darió in the mind long after the curtain fell, and her soaring line in the love duet with del Castillo’s Juan capped her contribution to the evening, as well as the composer’s own.
