Fantastic four-star review of 'Ottone in Villa' - next Vivaldi Edition opera to be recorded - at the Barbican on Friday!

elow is undoubtedly the first of a long series of fantastic reviews of 'Ottone in Villa' which was performed last Friday at the Barbican in London. In line with the great reaction of the audience after the performance, here are some highlights from the four-star review of 'Ottone in Villa' by The Guardian.

The Guardian ★★★★

Premiered in 1713, Vivaldi’s bitter little comedy Ottone in Villa was his first opera and stands, in some respects, at a tangent to its successors. At just over two and a half hours, it is short by his standards, while its taut dramaturgy precludes the sprawling quality that hampers his later stage works.

The subject – standard 18th-century fare, but handled with great sensual frankness and moral astuteness – is the relationship between desire and politics.

(...)

Caio’s emotional and moral anguish gradually exposes the self-seeking superficiality that surrounds him. An exacting, complex role, it was sung unforgettably in this concert performance by Julia Lezhneva, who combines flawless technique with emotional veracity. Sonia Prina’s Ottone was all rapid-fire coloratura and smug self-deception.

Tim Ashley

You can read the full article here and consult more reviews of the performance on the Vivaldi Edition facebook page.