TV Standard: NTSC
Color: Color

Credits:

Placido Domingo

Description:

Placido Domingo, who became one of the "Three Great Tenors" and switched from tenor to baritone a few years ago, is still expanding his repertoire even after turning 75 in 2016, and will appear at La Scala, the pinnacle of Italian opera. The "Two Foscari," one of Verdi's earliest operas and one that has received increasing acclaim in recent years, is a precursor to his later "Simon Boccanegra," in which the young Verdi of the 1840s explored a new path, one of "austerity and gravity," a style different from the fiery, passionate style he had pursued until then. It depicts the political strife in Venice and the tragedy of Foscari and his son caused by it. The Governor requires a strong and convincing baritone, and Domingo sang the conflicts and sorrows of the Governor Foscari beautifully with his mature voice. The co-stars are also splendid: Francesco Meli, an Italian tenor with a soft and brilliant voice, and Anna Pirozzi, a highly acclaimed dramatic soprano in recent years. This performance was her debut at La Scala.The production and stage design are by Latvian director Alvis Hermanis, who has garnered attention for his work on the 2012 Salzburg Festival's "The Soldiers" and the 2016 festival's "Danae's Love." Hermanis has been gaining recognition in recent years for his simple interpretations and gorgeous stage design. In this production, too, the emotions of Governor Foscari's anguish, his son Jacopo's grief, and his wife Lucrezia's entreaties are beautifully expressed visually. Imported with Japanese obi and commentary. Recorded: February 25, 2016 at La Scala, Milan