Rossini: Ermione / Ganassi, Pizzolato, Kunde

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ROSSINI Ermione • Roberto Abbado, cond; Sonia Ganassi ( Ermione ); Marianna Pizzolato ( Andromaca ); Gregory Kunde ( Pirro ); Antonino Siragusa ( Oreste...


ROSSINI Ermione • Roberto Abbado, cond; Sonia Ganassi ( Ermione ); Marianna Pizzolato ( Andromaca ); Gregory Kunde ( Pirro ); Antonino Siragusa ( Oreste ); Ferdinand von Bothmer ( Pilade ); Nicola Ulivieri ( Fenicio ); Irina Samoylova ( Cleone ); Cristina Faus ( Cefisa ); Riccardo Botta ( Attalo ); Prague CCh; Bologna Teatro Comunale O • DYNAMIC 33609 (DVD: 143:00)


I am only aware of two recordings of this opera, both released on CD. The earliest, from 1987, was on the private Legato label and featured Montserrat Caballé, Marilyn Horne, Chris Merritt, and Rockwell Blake; it was conducted by Gustav Kahn. The only commercial recording on Erato was from 1988 with Cecilla Gasdia, Margarita Zimmerman, Chris Merritt, and Eresto Placido, conducted by Claudio Scimone. It was reviewed in Fanfare 11: 5 by David Johnson, who called it “A very important recording.” Unfortunately, as Johnson mentioned, the Erato set is severely cut, while the Legato issue is complete, as is this DVD.


Ermione is probably the least performed of Rossini’s operas. The first modern performance was at the Rossini festival in Pesaro in 1987. It is the one on the Legato CDs. I was fortunate enough to see a performance of this opera in the summer festival of the San Francisco Opera in 1992. The libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola is based on Racine’s tragedy Andromaque. Although in Racine’s play the principal character is Andromaca, Tottola made Ermione the star. The story takes place in ancient Greece. King Pirro, the son of Achilles, is in love with Andromaca. However, Ermione is in love with Pirro and resents his feelings for Andromaca. Andromaca has a child who is imprisoned by the Greeks, and Pirro offers to free him if Andromaca weds him. The arrival of Oreste complicates the plot, since he is in love with Ermione. Ermione persuades Oreste to kill Pirro, which he does. The major difference is that in Racine’s version, Ermione commits suicide at the end, but in this opera she merely faints.


Rossini’s score was quite different from most of his works. The Overture is interrupted by the chorus of Trojan prisoners lamenting the fall of Troy. As Johnson said: “In form, Ermione is one of his boldest experiments, with virtually no detachable ‘numbers,’ no sure-fire arias that come to an end and beg for applause.” There are three tenor roles, all calling for high Cs, and even high Ds. Gregory Kunde is a fine Pirro, Antonino Siragusa is an impassioned Oreste, and Ferdinand von Bothmer a good Pilade.


Sonia Ganassi is an excellent Ermione; she portrays the fury of the character with great success, and is vocally very good. Marianna Pizzolato has a warm mezzo voice and is a fine Adromaca. Roberto Abbado conducts the score’s formal structure brilliantly.


However, the production takes place in never-never land. There is absolutely no connection with ancient Greece. The stage is a unit set with no color; it has rising levels and underground dungeons. Fortunately, it does not upset the drama. What era the costumes are designed for is a mystery to me. Despite the production, the opera is worth seeing. Since both CD recordings are probably out of print, Rossini lovers should not hesitate to purchase this set, even though it is on two DVDs when it could have been simply on one.


FANFARE: Bob Rose
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Recorded: Adriatic Arena – Pesaro, Italy; August 10th-13th, 2008 NTSC All Region; 16:9; Dolby Digital 5.1/LPCM 2.0; Approx. 182 mins. Subtitled in French, Italian, English, German & Spanish


Product Description:

  • Release Date: January 01, 2011


  • UPC: 8007144336097


  • Catalog Number: DYN-33609


  • Label: Dynamic


  • Number of Discs: 2


  • Composer: Gioachino Rossini


  • Conductor: Roberto Abbado


  • Orchestra/Ensemble: Bologna Teatro Comunale Orchestra


  • Performer: Antonio Siragusa, Ferdinand von Bothmer, Gregory Kunde, Marianna Pizzolato, Nicola Ulivieri, Sonia Ganassi