Romeo et Juliette :Marseilles Operahouse

To be more polite than the title, ('ladies first') Juliette-Patrizia Ciofi and her Romeo-Teodor Illincai, coming out of the opera house around 6.30 pm, touching, smiling and looking so happy!
So was I because I had a splendid afternoon on sunday the 16th for the opening of my season at my favourite opera house. And it was Gounod.. with so many 'tubes' de l'opéra' as we say in French. I simply love this opera, even more than Faust and Carmen. It is linked to such a marvellous play.
Patrizia Ciofi, like she did for Ophelie, sang this role for the first time here, and her husband was conducting, so it is a great event for us. The young Roumanian tenor, Teodor Illai, (he is 28) has not sung this role for long, and it was also an honour to be witnessing the birth, so to speak, of a lyrical tenor. The slim and fragile looking Patrizia sang and acted like she always does, with delicate singing, strong top notes and passion; the young tenor started rather quietly and then opened up in radiant voice, with easy tops and also a passion and energy which matched the fragile figure of her lover. It was wonderful, and the orchestra was following the singers so nicely. My only drawback came from the silly fencers who made so much noise with their swords and did not let me enjoy the prologue. Was this gesticulation necessary to the meaning of the work? having noticed that the Capulet were wearing red caps and the Montaigue black ones was fairly simple... no need to have this fight, like in West Side Story, even worse in fact!
The setting was fairly simple and adaptable, with a gallery over looking the stage, which was the center part, transformed into the ball room, the plaza, Laurent's study, Juliette's bedroom, then the Capulet's tomb. The stairs on each side going to the gallery made Juliette run quite a lot either upstairs, downstairs, or along the gallery, making Gertrude chase her; I loved that when Patrizia escaped like a young child in front of her Nanny!
For the opening of the season the chorus were marvellously on time with the orchestra, the orchestra was fine, and the singers all mastering their roles. Having said that, I have a special thought for Eduarda Melo who was a very nice looking Stephano and sang beautifully. She was Vincenette in Mireille and I remembered how good she was too. The costumes were simple but well adorned. Patrizia and Teodor looked really fabulous.So, whatelse could be said? I like Patrizia's voice and the passion she puts in her singing. It is captivating to watch her launch into her arias. She has a natural feeling for the dramatic tension of these roles, and make me believe in what she does on stage. I was thrilled by their acting and singing. Of course it was a discovery and yet the end was the same...
The audience enjoyed this performance as much as I did (still there is one baritone... I would try to make him retire but I am not at the head of the opera house am I!)and I was pleased to have the opportunity to listen to Gounod again, there are always some discoveries to be made while listening to the music from the pit, and that is why I keep going to live performances, to feel the colours of the orchestra according to the conductor. It was a daring rendition of Romeo et Juliette on Sunday afternoon.
Teodor Illai will come to Marseilles opera house in 2014 (quite a long time ahead...) to perform La Traviata. (nice prospect) he will sing in Toulouse in 2012 (Butterfly). That's not too far away!I wish him all the best! He is a promising tenor!

Romeo et Juliette LINK


Marseilles opera house is like the Phantom of the opera...I'll try to chat about this new appearance... and why...