You have to give credit where credit is due: the massive Tutto Verdi project is bringing out a glut of Verdi operas which Verdi lovers
have rarely seen (and in some cases my hunch would be have never seen). That's probably the case with Luisa Miller, yet
another tragic love story that accrues a rather staggering amount of death and destruction by the time its final curtain rains down. This has
little of the uplift that would color some of Verdi's other tragedies, perhaps due to its source element, a play by Schiller. This is a very
interesting production, kind of half "old school", half neo-modern, that helps infuse the sometimes turgid libretto with a bit of intrigue and
compelling drama.
This is almost a chamber opera in a way and is curiously reminiscent (though it obviously predates) such later fare as Cavelleria
Rusticana. There's not much to the plot other than star-crossed love mixed with a fair degree of family tragedy, but great operas have
been built on less. This production features some excellent singing from Fiorenza Cedolins as Luisa and Marcelo Alvarez as Rodolfo, her
erstwhile lover. Rafal Siwek is also surprisingly effective as Wurm, the man who wants Luisa to himself and plots against the lovers.
Luisa Miller is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of C Major and Unitel Classica with an AVC encoded 1080i transfer in 1.78:1. This is a rather
handsome production that blends both modern and vintage elements in an unusual but ingratiating way, and though the staging and sets are
minimal, they pop rather well throughout this high definition presentation. The image is very crisp and sharp looking, and close-ups reveal a
wealth of fine detail. Best of all, the solid stage lighting offers good contrast and well above average shadow detail.
Luisa Miller features both a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix as well as an uncompressed LPCM 2.0 stereo fold down. This
may in fact not be prime Verdi, but you wouldn't know it by the conviction with which it's sung and played in this 2007 production. The principal
cast are all very good to excellent and the orchestra (conducted by Donato Renzetti) plays with a lot of nuance and dynamic verve. Fidelity is
excellent and the 5.1 mix offers some excellent hall ambience.
Introduction to Luisa Miller (1080i; 10:06) offers the requisite background and synopsis, helping to orient viewers not
overly familiar with this piece. This was a break from Verdi's usual subject matter and was his first foray into a more naturalistic depiction of
everyday life rather than of quasi-mythic or historical characters.
I was actually a bit surprised by how much I ended up liking Luisa Miller. There's no denying this is second-tier Verdi, but heaven knows
even second-tier Verdi is two or three tiers above most other opera composers. The score is full of haunting melodies, and if the libretto is a bit
sticky and overly melodramatic at times, that's a small price to pay. Verdi fans will most definitely want to check this one out.
Recommended.
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