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Matilde di Shabran at the Royal Opera

Imagine Juan Diego Flórez being the bad guy - angular beard, leather trousers, mock military jacket. Of course, that didn't last long as Corradino fell in love with Matilde (Aleksandra Kurzak) when the latter turned up at the castle (comprised of a raised stage and a double spiral staircase that spun around). The 2-hour long first act didn't feel long as the plot moved along nicely. Juan Diego Flórez sang his part with gusto.



The second act started marvelously chaotic with the poet Isidoro (sung by Alfonso Antoniozzi) and ended with some coloratura pyrotechnic from Aleksandra Kurzak in true Rossini style. Some would say Matilde out sang Corradino, but I think they both sang fantastically.


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