Giacomo Puccini: La Fanciulla Del West
Orchester und Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Franz Welser-Möst
Studio: Sony Music
A celebrated new production of Puccini’s La fanciulla del West from the Vienna State opera featuring Jonas Kaufmann and Nina Stemme. Staged by Marco Arturo Marelli, who sets it in a mining village during the American gold rush of 1849, with the feel of a gritty modern drama.It tells the tale of Minnie, the bartender in the saloon whom all the local men adore, and Dick Johnson alias Ramerrez, a notorious bandit. Dick and Minnie fall in love on first meeting, so much so that he vows to change his life as a bandit, sung by two contemporary greats: Nina Stemme and Jonas Kaufmann.
A new production from Marco Arturo Marelli brought one of Puccini’s rarely performed works to the Vienna State Opera stage in September 2013. Jonas Kaufmann in his role debut as the wanted and notorious bandit Ramerrez proves “ideally cast, full of power, with his breathtakingly beautiful baritone timbre, full of mellow italianità” KURIER
Nina Stemme and Jonas Kaufmann are the opera’s must-see couple for a generation… The rich playing of the Vienna orchestra under Franz Welser-Möst shows up the colour and detail of Puccini’s score to spectacular effect” FINANCIAL TIMES
The orchestra (….) plays superbly under Franz Welser-Möst (….) And the singers could hardly be better. NEW YORK TIMES
“A debutant in what is already one of his best roles – pure joy for the audience” DIE WELT