Bicentennial celebrations Verdiano 2013

MODENA: The outstanding Lithuanian tenor Kristian Benedikt (In Lithuania known as Vaidas Vysniauskas) had last night premiere in Modena at the Teatro di Luciano Pavarotti, as Otello in Giuseppe Verdis opera of the same name, build on Shakespeares famouse drama Othello.  This was broadcasted live on an Italian television channel http://www.lepida.tv that I could get into the computer, so I followed it. It was a wonderful experience,

Kristian Benedikt was extraordinarily good, scenic totally convincing, he did not play Otello, he was Otello, he is musical to the fingertips, and he has the dramatic ability and expression that made this Otello to may be the best and most credible that I have experienced. He has a beautiful timbre in his voice, which at certain times actually gave me relations with several of the major Italian tenors in this subject.

There were shouts of high bravo after some of his great arias and in the final applause. – This opera house has experienced all the big names, so this was very representative for Kristian Benedikt. Persuasive.

It would not surprise me, if we soon will  find him  on the major famous operahouses around in the world. This performance was the last of three performances of this production, which was performed in Modena 10. 12. 15. March
.

Together with Kristian Benedikt in the titelrole.  Yolanda Auyanet was singing a beautiful Desdemona, and Alberto Mastromarino was outstanding as Iago, while Cassio on this televised evening was sung by Christiano Oliveri.  Maurizio Barbacini conducted it all in a good Verdi mood.

The following cast:

 

The show, whose construction had been created for the Teatro San Carlo in Naples and then, for its historical value, acquired by the Teatro Regio di Parma which piece of excellence in the Verdi repertoire, will be broadcast live and can be seen free of charge within the Billboard 200 Green promoted by the Emilia-Romagna region in the celebration of the Bicentenary of Verdi. 

The work was visible from the Modena Operahouse on the site www.giuseppeverdi.it and LepidaTv (digital channel 118, visible in Emilia-Romagna) and was  broadcasted in simulcast in the following rooms of the Region: Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Auditorium Riding of Reggio Emilia , Auditorium Corelli Fusignano (RA), Council Chamber of Villanova on (PC). 

Is also transmitted live or deferred, in the Italian cultural institutes of Lisbon, Los Angeles, Quito, La Paz, Sao Paulo, Caracas, Edinburgh, New Delhi, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Yerevan.

The cooproduction with Teatro San Carlo, Napoli, where the production was premiered in 2006, It is a good “old fashion” Verdi Opera, – far away from the modern ideas. A way of presenting an opera, that the audience can understand.  I have the feeling that the ideas which has been through the last 20 years to modernize all old fashion operas and give it a bew modernized form, scenography, costumes, not is in fashion any longer, as the audience don´t understand it
. Thank you for that, and a compliment to the regisseur:

Kristian Benedikt will again sing Otello in Piacenza 22. and 24th March
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Reviews:

Enrico Girardi in Corriera della sera is writing:

“And of course the effect is powered by the voice of a tenor as Kristian Benedikt, beautiful color dark ring is powerful, giving assurances of temperament and seal.”

Mirko Bertolini in Teatro org. is writing:

“Valid cast for a work not easy to approach voice. In the title role Kristian Benedikt gave it a try soon enough, good technique and decent treble, excellent stage presence.”

Felicia Buonomo in Gazzetta di Modena is writing:

“Insonnia Othello has managed to win over the public, which has honored artists with sonorous applause.”

In MTG Lirica Maria Teresa Giovagnoli is writing: 

“Unfortunately not convincing evidence of the full content Kristian Benedikt. His voice is scratchy as it befits the brave leader, but not with the treble boost that would require for the character. So shows a tension in the throat that leads to a sound unnatural. Redeems himself in the third and fourth act, especially for acting in perfect accord with the soprano, in scenes of great narrative tension beautifully seasoned by the sound of the orchestra. !

 

Please enjoy reviews from other Otello performances in Kulturkompasset:

In Venezia, http://www.kulturkompasset.com/2012/12/otello-in-venezia/

In Pisa: http://www.kulturkompasset.com/2013/03/otello-in-pisa/

In Toulon: http://www.kulturkompasset.com/2012/05/otello-at-toulon/

And about the Kristian Benedikt Galla in Vilnius: http://www.kulturkompasset.com/2011/11/outstanding-kristian-benedikt-gala-in-vilnius/