Verdi composed his Don Carlos for Paris. It was a grand opéra in five acts with ballet. Too long for the taste of the Italian public and the opera was therefore not a success there. More than fifteen years after the French premiere in 1867, Verdi was prepared to work on a shortened Italian version. Don Carlo, in four acts and without ballet, premiered in 1884. And that is the version that is being
… performed here in the opera theater in Turin. The decor and costumes of director Hugo de Ana are beautiful (in a style that will please Franco Zeffirelli lovers). Yet this is not a colorful production, as the stage is usually shrouded in half darkness. The cast includes renowned singers such as Ramón Vargas (Don Carlo) and Ludovic Tézier (Rodrigo). Ildar Abdrazakov sings well but looks too young for Philips II. (CP)more
