Il trovatore, Royal Opera

The Fat Lady strikes back! Azucena (sung by Stephanie Blythe) out sang and out sized everyone at this production of Verdi Il Trovatore. She definitely filled the Victorian theatre with her penetrative voice. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast fell into the trap of trying to out do each other - by singing louder and louder - there were unpleasant moments when I could not quite distinguish whether it was singing or shouting.
Manrico was sung by Marcelo Alverez who has gone podgy though he still possesses his dramatic tenorial ring - time to go on a diet. Leonora was sung by Catherine Naglestad who seemed to have a plum stuck in her buccal cavity - text text text! Anthony Michales-Moore was the Count di Luna - whose acting was good but intonation was wayward. And mama mia the Italian diction was awful - could hardly hear the words.
All in all, it was an unremarkable and forgettable performance.

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