thu 28/03/2024

La Verità in Cimento, Garsington Opera | reviews, news & interviews

La Verità in Cimento, Garsington Opera

La Verità in Cimento, Garsington Opera

A Vivaldi premiere may just be the dark horse of this season's summer opera

Duncan Hayler's icy kingdom offers an alternative to turbans and Turkish carpetsJohan Persson

With so many of the premieres and rediscoveries of the summer opera season coming from the bel canto repertoire, it’s lovely to see Garsington Opera striking out in a different direction. Following on from last year’s L'Incoronazione di Dario (and culminating aptly next year in L’Olimpiade), the company this year offer up that exotic rarity La verità in cimento – a middle-period Vivaldi opera, behind the veil of whose unfamiliar title are hiding a harem of flashing-eyed arias and seductive orchestral writing.

With so many of the premieres and rediscoveries of the summer opera season coming from the bel canto repertoire, it’s lovely to see Garsington Opera striking out in a different direction. Following on from last year’s L'Incoronazione di Dario (and culminating aptly next year in L’Olimpiade), the company this year offer up that exotic rarity La verità in cimento – a middle-period Vivaldi opera, behind the veil of whose unfamiliar title are hiding a harem of flashing-eyed arias and seductive orchestral writing.

Laurence Cummings drew the Garsington Festival Orchestra into elegant frenzies, pulling rhythms every which way

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Comments

But what bel canto discoveries of the summer might those be? Holland Park is doing Catalani and Mascagni - verismo, or kinda. Maybe Buxton and later Wexford are doing Donizetti, but I don't know. And would like to.

Can you explain the title? Surely it can't mean 'Truth is in the cement'?

I have not seen this production and have only ever heard this opera on CD but it is a relief to finally come across a review of it where the writer does not seem to be following some pre-conceived anti-Vivaldi agenda (I'll ignore the comment about the composer's operas often outstaying their welcome). "Truth put to the test" does have a convoluted plot, even by baroque standards but it contains some fantastic music and is in no way as inferior to Handel as some wish to make out. I have been gladdened to hear that a Vivaldi opera is finally being performed in this country and can only hope this is not just a one off!

We were delighted by this production. Fantastic music, a great cast and excellent production. Looking forward to more Vivaldi opera at Garsington

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