Ivory Gothic madness: a visceral Guglielmo Ratcliff in Wexford

Mascagni: Guglielmo Ratcliff *****

Wexford Festival Opera, 22nd October 2015

Craziness is part of the territory with tenors. Opportunities to see Mascagni’s Guglielmo Ratcliff come few and far between, mainly because the title role is an absolute killer for any tenor mad enough to attempt it. Francesco Tamagno, Verdi’s first Otello, refused to touch it when approached to sing the 1895 première. Giovanni Battista De Negri eventually took the role and only around 25 tenors have sung it since. Step forward Sicilian tenor Angelo Villari, crazy enough to tackle Ratcliff for Wexford Festival Opera in a performance – and production – nothing short of triumphant.

Angelo Villari (Guglielmo)
© Clive Barda

Read the full review on Bachtrack.