Verdi: Simon Boccanegra at Théâtre des Champs Elysées

A Simon Boccanegra of Great Musical Value

Announcing an evening of “Great Voices“, it was indeed a cast of high quality and great unity that was proposed this Sunday to the public of the Theatre of the Champs Elysées under the masterful direction of Pinchas Steinberg. Mr. Steinberg draws a myriad of colors and musical expression out of the Orchestre Philarmonique de Monte Carlo, interchanging moments of ethereal weightlessness with powerful passages of considerable dramatic weight, driven by intense physical engagement.

The Maestro’s precise baton is grounded in a deep-seated knowledge of the score, visually singing the soloist parts in order to bring out phrasing and breath. He leads his interpreters through each accent and nuance: musicians and singers all respond to these demands in the same spirited commitment.

The Opéra de Monte-Carlo Chorus […] equally powerful and refined, is perfectly integrated.

The value of the piece, which like Ernani is relatively rarely programmed, is entirely validated by this musical interpretation.

Damien Dutilleul, Olyrix, 3 March 2017