Gramophone Magazine
January 2023
Blu-ray of the Month

María José Siri (Adriana Lecouvreur), Ksenia Dudnikova (Princess de Bouillon), Martin Muehle (Maurizio), Paolo Antognetti (Abbe de Chazeuil), Alessandro Spina (Prince de Bouillon), Nicola Alaimo (Michonnet), Orchestra E Coro Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Daniel Harding

Francesco Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur was inspired by the real-life story of a celebrated actress at the Comédie-Française who was much admired by Voltaire. Hailed as a masterpiece, the opera was triumphantly staged in cities around the world after its premiere in 1902. The dramatically effective narrative is a passionate love triangle filled with intrigue and complicated plot twists set in the gallant 18th century. Its subtle ironies and gorgeous cantabile style of music provide a perfect vehicle for the star cast in this stunning production from the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. This superbly filmed and recorded Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino production was the first opera of the 83rd edition of the Maggio Musicale Festival, an event enriched by thepresence of renowned conductor Daniel Harding.

"The playing is admirably sensuous: Cilea knew his Wagner and Debussy, and Harding pointedly emphasises the debts, while also giving us plenty of Italianate passion and lyricism." - Gramophone Magazine, January 2023.