DVD 7309 L'ELISIR D'AMORE

La Scala's stage is immense and the sets for this opera were rather strange, possibly progressive for the date. Instead of scenery, there are atmospheres created by huge blue-sky-painted curtains or moveable backdrops. All this was moved about by choristers. Dulcamara's entrance brings a cascade of showbill/carnival-type lights from the ceiling. Etc. Gianetta and the chorus of Adina's laborers and villagers were dressed in such dowdy attire...I thought, well, they ought to know how to dress Italian villagers in Milan...Adina's clothes were not much better. The singing was okay by all but the acting in the huge spaces seemed phoney. Claudio Desderi's Dulcamara was very animated and Leo Nucci's Belcore was good, too. La Scola's Nemorino was pretty dull comparatively speaking but his Una Furtiva Lagrima was excellent. Ferrarini's Adina was very good, too. DVD quality is good.