Giordano: Andrea Chénier
1996This live from the Met telecast from October 1996 of Giordano’s infrequently performed verismo gem is an absolute pleasure to watch and listen to and I highly recommend it. Nicholas Joel’s production is extremely elegant while at the same time being simple and uncluttered. Act I, for example, is dominated by an enormous gilt-framed mirror precariously tilted. I assume that it is a metaphor for the imminent downfall of the decadent aristocracy at the party given by the Contessa di Coigny. The costumes designs by Hubert Monloup are terrific. The prerevolutionary costumes in Act I are simply stunning each one individually tailored for the choristers and major performers.
Acted in
Luciano Pavarotti
as Andrea Chenier
Maria Guleghina
as Maddalena di Coigny
Juan Pons
as Gerard
Wendy White
as Bersi
Stephanie Blythe
as Madelon
Judith Christin
as Contessa di Coigny
Haijing Fu
as Roucher
Christopher Schaldenbrand
as Pietro Fléville
Yannis Yannissis
as Fouquier-Tinville
Paul Plishka
as Mathieu
Michel Sénéchal
as Incredible
Richard Vernon
as Schmidt
Jeffrey Wells
as Dumas
James Levine
as Conductor
MET Orchestra
