LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Opera kicks off its 20th Anniversary season with a new production of Verdi's sensational Don Carlo —a classic opera of epic proportions about power, love, and betrayal during the 16th century Spanish Inquisition, skillfully conducted by LA Opera's new music director James Conlon.
Don Carlo was showcased a day after La Traviata to provide a dramatic show of operatic commitment and power to open the season at the Los Angeles Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Based on the play Don Carlos by Friedrich Schiller, and translated to Italian by Achille de Lauzières and Angelo Zanardini, this historic drama follows the 1884 La Scala version in four-acts, and is presented in 3½ hours with one intermission.
Don Carlo (Salvatore Licitra), distraught by the loss of his betrothed French princess Elizabeth De Valois (Annalisa Raspagliosi) to his father, King Philip II of Spain (Ferruccio Furlanetto), is encouraged by his friend Rodrigo, Marquis of Posa (Lado Ataneli), to join the Flemish insurgency opposing his father's forces; a move that captures the attention of the Grand Inquisitor (Eric Halfvarson).
Princess Eboli (Dolora Zajick), upset by Carlo's disinterest in her, threatens to tell the King of Carlo's illicit love for Elizabeth.
The Italian soprano, Annalisa Raspagliosi is collected in her portrayal of Elizabeth exhibiting vocal beauty and good acting. Winner of the Cascina Lirica and Cittá di Roma vocal competition in 1998, Raspagliosi made her Company debut last season as Nedda in Pagliacci.
Impressive is the internationally acclaimed dramatic Verdi mezzo-soprano, Dolora Zajick, as Princess Eboli, magnificently singing, with beautiful coloratura, the Veil Song 'Nel giardin del bello', and 'O don fatale'. Not only Zajick's powerful voice displayed agility and flexibility in singing the most difficult of arias effortlessly, but she also captivates the audience in her compelling role acted with igniting energy.
Acknowledged as a true dramatic Verdi mezzo-soprano, Zajik has recorded her solo disc "The Art of the Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano" (Telarc). Zajick has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, among others, and made her 2004 Company debut as Azucena in Il Trovatore.
The very accomplished Swiss-born Italian tenor, Salvatore Licitra (Don Carlo) is an exclusive Sony Masterworks artist, and his discography includes Tosca and Il Trovatore from La Scala, as well as two albums of Italian arias, including his latest release of "Forbidden Love." He made his LA Opera debut last season in Tosca, the same opera that marked his 2002 Metropolitan Opera debut replacing Luciano Pavarotti.
The Georgian baritone Lado Ataneli proves to be quite a performer in his role of Rodrigo, Marquis of Posa, and an outstanding voice in The Friendship Duet with Salvatore Licitra, 'Dio, che nell'anima infondere'. The duet was flawless and vibrating with energy.
Ataneli made his Los Angeles Opera debut in 2002 in the title role of Nabucco, and returned in 2005 as Amonasro in Aida.
Ferruccio Furlanetto as King Philip II of Spain
Making his LA Opera debut is one of the world's most sought after singers, Ferruccio Furlanetto as the authoritative King Philip II of Spain. Furlanetto's powerful bass voice captivated the audience, reaching a climax with the roaring ovation at the end of the 'Ella giammai m'amo' performance.
Furlanetto has several opera recordings, opera films, and TV telecasts, and performed in all the major opera houses in the world, including La Scala, the Vienna State Opera, Covenant Garden, and Metropolitan Opera. Furlanetto is also an Honorary Ambassador to the United Nations and a "Kammersänger" of the Vienna State Opera.
Delivering a chilling dramatic performance is Eric Halfvarson as the blind and eerie Grand Inquisitor, who made his LA Opera debut as Capellio in I Capuleti e i Montecchi in 1999.
With the exception of the king's and queen's gold robes, and other scenes, the three-time Olivier Award winner, costume designer Tim Goodchild, dressed the entire cast in black, well reflecting the somber tone.
Connecting the main characters are their conflicting loyalties: King Philip II of Spain is troubled by his divided loyalty to his State and the Church; his only son Don Carlo has divided loyalty to his cause and Elizabeth the woman he loves; Princess Eboli has divided loyalty to the King, to Elizabeth, and to Don Carlo the man she loves; and Rodrigo to King Philip II and to Don Carlo. Elizabeth is also torn between her love for Don Carlo and duty to her husband the King.
Of the ensuing tragic consequences of all these conflicts, Don Carlo never ascends to the Spanish Throne.
This magnificent and rarely performed opera challenges one's emotions and intellect on many levels, including the issues of forbidden love, morality, leadership, and liberty—and in its presentation validates itself as an operatic masterpiece.
Historical Note on Composer Verdi
Mostly known for being the most celebrated opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi was also a political figure. Verdi was elected to office twice. In 1859 Verdi was elected Deputy of the Assembly of the Parma Provinces. In this post he represented his Assembly to Victor Emanuel II, who in 1861 became the first king of the unified Italy. Verdi was subsequently elected to Deputy to the First Parliament of Italy, and later named Senator for Life by the Italian government.
Performance Dates and Location
Don Carlo runs through October 1, 2006, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles. For information call (213) 972-8001, or visit www.laopera.com.