Customer Reviews

IL MATRIMONIO SEGRETO

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Il Matrimonio Segreto is a charming opera, with only six singing roles and a small orchestra and such a lovely music that it is easy to understand the story of the austrian emperor ordering the entire opera encored immediately after the first performance. The Cologne Opera does it in a delightful way, with sensitivity and good taste and the period instruments make the listening even more interesting.

The DVD is quite simple, no extra options offered and only english subtitles (I wish all opera DVDs offered the original language in subtitles: german opera with german subtitles, italian opera with italian subtitles, etc.). The sound is good and the overall quality excellent. An opera is to watch and listen and the DVD lets you do exactly that, but only that.

Some people could find disturbing the applauses after some arias or certain noises from the stage, but there is always some cost to pay if you want the excitement and realism of a live performance.

All singers are in top form, particularly the married couple (Georgine Resick and David Kübler), the troubled father (Carlos Feller) and the Count (Claudio Nicolai, outstanding singers and excellent actors. The entire DVD is worth watching over and over.

What a delightful opera! I first became aware of Il Matrimonio Segreto from the recording, No Tenors Allowed, that features a duet from this opera, "Se fiato in corpo avete." I have since discovered that has far more to offer that that one glorious piece. Segreto is a fun, funny and light-hearted rollick in the true buffo tradition. The story is silly and convoluted, but then again that is half the fun. The music is light, and while not quite on par with Mozart (a contemporary of Cimarosa), who is? Cimarosa is certainly no slouch and offers a wonderful example of late eighteenth century musical style.

This DVD recording is also a delight to watch. With only the six principles in the cast, (with the occasional "super" non-singing extra making brief appearances), you need not only great singers but capable actors to pull this off. These six did a fantastic job not only musically, but in their acting (not always a forte of opera singers). I was "sold" on the fact that they were these characters and impressed by how well they melded their music to assist the action and character development. Buffo is much harder to do correctly than drama, and this cast is outstanding. It is actually funny.

I don't always notice the director's "hand" in operas, but I was very impressed by the direction of Claus Viller in this production. The staging is sparse and uncluttered, which enhances the sparseness of the cast and adds to the dramatic flow.

I wholeheartedly recommend this DVD to any opera buffs, either in casual or fanatical stripe.

A total gem with a rock solid performance. Sound clean and clear
with some period instruments circa 1792. A single stage setting
with six singers. Palino and Carolina have secretly married.
Carolina is the youngest daughter of Signor Geronimo a wealthy
merchant. Elisetta is his oldest and their aunt Fidalma, widowed
lives in the same house and has a heavy investment in the family
business. A marriage contract is drawn up to tie Elisetta to Count Robinson, a local Lord. Apprised of the situation a sibling
debate is entered into as to Elisetta's new title. The widowed
aunt who keeps the peace, secretly has a passion for ("Itis much better with a husband")Palino, who is sponsered by the count.
Count Robinson arrives for the first time to meet his intended but takes a fancy to Carolina. The fun and the confusion now begins with many scenario's to follow. The Count offers a dowary
reduction to Geronimo and follows up to tell the intended, what
a rouge he is. Robinson piles up the character flaws. She tells
him these are mere trifles, not convinced burst into uncontolable
laughter. Eventually the secret surfaces The count gives and will
marry Elisetta. Fidamal is embarressed. Geronimo who has been spun into confusion wants to disown Carolina. He is reminded that
she is with child. All is forgiven.
The non singing parts of the house staff add to the comedy.
This Opera higlights the Human Comedy and will leave you with a
smile at each viewing.

Cimarosa#s opera is a rare gem,seldom performed, but full of vivid enjoyable music.It needs an ensemble of six singers with coloratura and capable of acting.In this production everyone gives his best.The set is simple ,the costumes very nice.If you like comic opera then enjoy this one settled between Mozart and Rossini.

The singing is superb, the acting is good and the storyline, such as it is, is a lot of fun and pleasantries. I have been acquainted with this production since it appeared in the VHS format way back when. A pity that, unlike the majority of re-issues in DVD, this one presents very litle improvement over the original video cassete, both aural and visual. This shortcoming, in my view, robbed it of a full five-star rating.