Olivo e Pasquale by Donizetti, from Festival Donizetti Bergamo, performed at Teatro Sociale, Bergamo, 2016. Directed by Ugo Giacomazzi, conductor Federico Maria Sardelli, starring Giovanni Romeo, Silvia Beltrami, Matteo Macchioni, Laura Giordano, Filippo Morace, Bruno Taddia, Pietro Adaini, Edoardo Milletti. Performed in Italian and Subtitled in English, French, German and Italian.
OLIVO E PASQUALE
This sparkling opera buffa, recorded for the first time at the 2016 Donizetti Festival of Bergamo, has the part of Pasquale performed in the Neapolitan dialect. It is the story of two rich merchant brothers from Lisbon, Olivo
and Pasquale, who habitually weigh everything against its bargaining
power. The marriage of Olivo’s daughter and Pasquale’s niece Isabella is also a “bargain” to them: she must marry another merchant, so as not to break with family tradition. The gags bet ween the various characters are hilarious
especially those between the two brothers, who have completely different characters creating an almost surreal atmosphere. The show is very colourful, thanks to the rich sets and costumes. Olivo, performed by Br
uno Taddia, is the real protagonist: as Isabella’s father, he portrays a gruff, inflexible man, and does so with self assurance and ease, with out going
over the top. No less convincing is Filipppo Morace as his brother Pasquale, histrionic and exhilarating as an actor, musically precise and excellent in his Neapolitan dialect performance. Laura Giordano, thanks to her physique du rôle is perfect as Isabella, the heartbroken girl torn between love for the young Camillo and obedience towards her grumpy father.
World première recording.
“Olivo e Pasquale is a welcome rarity, prepared under the auspices of the Donizetti Foundation. The singing in this production is lively and enjoyable.
Donizetti enthusiasts will find this recording to be a lively and enjoy able performance of a virtually unknown work from the Master’s second tier. These are rare, and should be celebrated and cherished.”
Richard Kraus
MusicWeb International
For more information of this performance visit https://www.operabase.com/productions/olivo-e-pasquale-86595