Cilea: L’arlesiana
Opera Holland Park, 25th July 2019
The Italian verismo of Francesco Cilea’s L’arlesiana is drenched in Provençal sunshine, less earthy than the throbbing Sicilian heat of Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana, but with softer, pastoral shades. At just an hour and three quarters, it never outstays its welcome and has a hit number – “È la solita storia” – beloved by tenors everywhere. Strangely, it ranks below Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur, that generous slice of ham for past-their-prime sopranos. Thankfully, Opera Holland Park holds a torch for it – Oliver Platt’s is the company’s third staging in 21 years – whereas nobody else touches it with the proverbial bargepole.
Yvonne Howard (Rosa Mamai)
© Ali Wright
Click here to read the full review on Bachtrack.