Many people associate Gianni Schicchi with its melodic aria O mio babbino caro! and not giving the complex score its due respect. This being a relatively late work (after La rondine but before Turandot), the texture and rhythmic quality of the music is rich and exciting. So it was great to hear it well performed by the orchestra under the helm of Pappano. Thomas Allen, as Gianni Schicchi, really brought out the deal-maker-cum-breaker. Of course, he was supported by a strong cast of many who made this farcical work come to life.
Michael Levine's set design for Dialogues des Carmélites was minimalist. Actually, was there any set design? I suppose the director Robert Carsen was clever at introducing formation of human figures in many different ways to suggest the context of the opera. It kind of worked. Blanche, sung by Sally Matthews, was pretty good. Though I did find the whole work quite tedious - I think the intimate nature of the dialogues needed a small and intimate performing space i.e. not the Royal Opera House. The ending was worth waiting for. Dramatic. Poignant.
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