Premiered immediately before the enduring masterpieces Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, and La Traviata, Luisa Miller incorporates the youthful vitality that had made Verdi an international sensation while also looking forward to the dramaturgical discipline and sophistication of those later works. In this Live in HD performance, soprano Sonya Yoncheva takes on the riveting title role, capping off a season in which she starred in three cinema transmissions. As her father, Miller, the legendary Plácido Domingo adds another baritone role to his extensive repertoire. Tenor Piotr Beczała as Rodolfo, Alexander Vinogradov as Count Walter, and Dmitry Belosselskiy as Wurm round out the illustrious cast, and Bertrand de Billy conducts.
This production of the Italian opera Luisa Miller is simply spectacular. The music is amazing, the costumes are stunning, and the performances are out of this world. Sonya Yoncheva has a beautiful voice, I think that is undeniable if you've heard her in this production, and she gave a solid acting performance as well. Piotr Beczała, my favorite tenor, is as amazing as he always is, and Placido Domingo simply speaks for himself. Maybe this type of opera isn't for everyone, but it is definitely for me, and it remains by favorite opera production ever. As they say, those who get it, get it.
