Have you noticed the explosive chemistry between Thomas Allen and Carol Vaness, as scene partners? I love how they get it on - compared to the Salzburg version with the Russian singer, Allen is definitely more "chaste" with her, hehe. :)
@drtmuir I agree with you, although (regarding the MET production) it was a real treat for me to see my two favorites together, Ruggero Raimondi AND Thomas Allen- explosive!!! You're right to call the ROH production a party- you get the sense that they don't just play a role, they're having fun doing it as well. Something I didn't sense with the MET production, for some reason.
Perhaps the director tried to reflect the "spirt of the times" to some extent. After all, this was a period of great social upheaval with servants increasingly standing up to their masters. So making Figaro less charming and more aggressive does make sense in such a context.
I was thinking of that, it,s funny because Carol Vaness is the total opposite of his wife, physically (voluptuous brunette to a tall, blond, very English lady). ;)
@drtmuir Allen is such a great actor, I love how (in real life) he is a kind-hearted, almost shy person, but he knows how to come across as a douchebag as Count Almaviva- especially in the MET version, where he looks imperious, aristocratic and even mean. I find the ROH version more fun, warmer though. Mind you, Kathy Battle was sublime, but she has no humor, no lightness compared to Marie McLaughlin or even Mirella Freni.
My answer doesn't want to come appear for some reason (damn you TH-cam), but just type "Thomas Allen, In touch with life" (the name of the documentary) and you will see it. Enjoy!
![Le Nozze di Figaro - Mozart - "Signori, di fuori son già i sonatori" (Solti) [16]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6nsBBmrmJMc/mqdefault.jpg)
Smashing cast and looking production.
Complete cast marvellous too!
Very clever production. What an Antonio with voice of Boris and a real character with all the nuance I saw all over!
Thomas Allen, sensacional
Beautiful people.
Have you noticed the explosive chemistry between Thomas Allen and Carol Vaness, as scene partners? I love how they get it on - compared to the Salzburg version with the Russian singer, Allen is definitely more "chaste" with her, hehe. :)
@drtmuir I agree with you, although (regarding the MET production) it was a real treat for me to see my two favorites together, Ruggero Raimondi AND Thomas Allen- explosive!!! You're right to call the ROH production a party- you get the sense that they don't just play a role, they're having fun doing it as well. Something I didn't sense with the MET production, for some reason.
Classic! And great to see Federico's classic Antonio (one of)
hahaha fantastic! Allen is trying to hide his obvious..ejm...happiness, hehehe
You can see it in the documentary that was made about Allen (you can see it on TH-cam). :)
Federico's wonderful Antonio
The best Antonio ever!!
Perhaps the director tried to reflect the "spirt of the times" to some extent. After all, this was a period of great social upheaval with servants increasingly standing up to their masters. So making Figaro less charming and more aggressive does make sense in such a context.
I was thinking of that, it,s funny because Carol Vaness is the total opposite of his wife, physically (voluptuous brunette to a tall, blond, very English lady). ;)
@drtmuir Allen is such a great actor, I love how (in real life) he is a kind-hearted, almost shy person, but he knows how to come across as a douchebag as Count Almaviva- especially in the MET version, where he looks imperious, aristocratic and even mean. I find the ROH version more fun, warmer though. Mind you, Kathy Battle was sublime, but she has no humor, no lightness compared to Marie McLaughlin or even Mirella Freni.
Yes... Everything was going so well, why did this damn servant have to appear now! :D
Also, maybe because she's the opposite of a typical English type, that's why he had such fun... ;)
My answer doesn't want to come appear for some reason (damn you TH-cam), but just type "Thomas Allen, In touch with life" (the name of the documentary) and you will see it. Enjoy!
It's true they would have been hot together. :)