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| Act 1 Finale |
This Servilia knows that Vitellia is the only one who can save Sesto, and she’s pretty certain that the whole situation is Vitellia’s fault in the first place. This Servilia doesn’t ask, plead, or suggest; she demands (even getting a bit physical) that Vitellia stop feeling sorry for herself and do something.
Likewise, Annio is more than just Sesto’s sidekick. He is
friend, messenger, and advocate for Sesto. He does his best to keep Sesto out
of trouble, and tries to get him to face Tito right away when things go wrong. I
am convinced it’s truly Annio’s plea in his second aria in Act 2 that convinces
Tito to forgive Sesto.
Anna Grevelius has a beautiful face and a beautiful
voice, and somehow manages to be the most boyish, strongest (yes, even
masculine) Annio I’ve ever seen (and I have seen a lot of La Clemenza di Titos!) I guess I already mentioned in a previous post that I have a crush on her...him...her...them.
Unfortunately, I think that the costumer or costume
designer must hate Ms. Šaturová, because she looks pretty dowdy. In fact, both
female characters seem much older than their boyfriends, as they tower over
them. I also wondered for a while why Vitellia was running around in a slip. I
decided it actually is a dress, but it
still looks very slip-like. Tito (and perhaps Publi0) seem older, too. It’s hard
to get a sense of Tito and Sesto as life-long friends, when Tito looks old
enough to be Sesto’s father.
Meanwhile, Tito just wants to be the best emperor in the world,
Vitellia just wants power, and Sesto just wants everyone to like him. Actually,
I think ultimately all these three codependent folks want is to be loved; but
they’re all kind of unlikable, each in his/her own way.
But, more about that tomorrow. Meanwhile, go watch it at the La Monnaie website.
Related Posts:
La Clemenza at La Monnaie
Personal Drama... (Review, Part 2)
But, more about that tomorrow. Meanwhile, go watch it at the La Monnaie website.
Related Posts:
La Clemenza at La Monnaie
Personal Drama... (Review, Part 2)
Making Servilia dowdy seems to be a thing - I'm thinking of Barbara Bonney's Servilia in the Kasarova/Röschmann/Garanca production - I definitely get more of a mother/son vibe with Servilia and Annio there too. Either that, or they style her like a little girl - now I'm mainly thinking of that production where Berenice rides by in a hollowed-out potato in the background.
ReplyDeleteYes, BB seemed an odd casting (at that point in her career) and was not flatteringly costumed. The Berenice's Potato production has easily the most effeminate Annio I have ever seen (although Hannah Esther Minutillo sings well.)
DeleteI think the Zurich production (questionable for it's use of dialog instead of recits and Eva Mei) had one of the best casting solutions: Malin Hartelius (looking youthful, but legal) and the always reliable (and mercurial -- she always seems to disappear into her roles) Liliana Nikiteanu as a charming Servillia and Annio.
damn, I wrote 2000+ words on this one and you nailed it in 500 or so! I agree with everything you said, except Vitellia's dress really is a slip, no ifs and buts ;-) She's a bit of a flasher, haha.
ReplyDelete>>> Meanwhile, Tito just wants to be the best emperor in the world, Vitellia just wants power, and Sesto just wants everyone to like him. Actually, I think ultimately all these three codependent folks want is to be loved; but they’re all kind of unlikable, each in his/her own way.<<<
Exactly. It's interesting, Theatre du Champs-Elysees is doing a Tito with Streit, Kate Lindsey (Sesto) and Karina Gauvin (Vitellia) this December and I pondered whether I should go or not. Namely, when I think about the La Monnaie production I kind of like Streit's interpretation of Tito but when I think of his Tito compared to other Titi and his Tito in relation to Sesto (especially as I think Lindsey will be another neurotic Sesto) I kinda don't feel the wahala is worth it. I like the idea of an introverted but not nuts Tito but a Tito who's old enough to be Sesto's dad ruins the tension between them. And don't get me started on these super neurotic Sesti. If I never see one again it won't be too soon, never mind their singing abilities. But who knows, Lindsey might surprise us.
Generally speaking I still think each character was fine enough on its own in the La Monnaie production but the whole thing didn't gel.