This DVD is of a performance by the Nice Opera with the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Laurent Petitgirard and with Jana Sykorova playing the role of Joseph Merrick.
Although it was written between 1995 and 1998 and first staged in 2002, this opera by the French composer Laurent Petitgirard clearly belongs to the late-Romantic school. There are echoes of the music of Debussy and Faure in particular, perhaps unsurprisingly for a French composer. There are modern influences too, including the Sondheim of 'Sweeney Todd', although the clear links in storyline and location may be partly responsible for this apparent connection. This first recording of a live staged performance comes from the Nice Opera House and the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by the composer. It is a direct transfer of the world premiere production that was originally performed in Prague. It is a truly remarkable opera. First of all it is very accessible, genuinely melodic and containing some truly beautiful and typically French music. The cast is excellent and the production is extremely well done. It is a really touching story, based on true events from Joseph Merrick's life as opposed to the more embroidered accounts that have appeared in film and print. The real value of recounting this story in opera is that it presents an opportunity to explore the deep emotions of the characters and the events. This is very well done here both in the opera itself and in this production. There are many genuinely moving moments.
The cast are uniformly excellent. Valerie Condoluci is outstanding as the caring nurse/dream woman who is the first and really the only person who truly cares for Merrick. As Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man, Petitgirard has cast a female contralto. This is a part played exceptionally well by Jana Sykorova, both vocally and dramatically, especially in view of the very difficult costume and makeup/prosthetics she has to wear. I am still not entirely convinced that his original thought of casting a male counter-tenor might not have been a better option, or even perhaps another male voice. His final choice of a female contralto was designed to heighten the strangeness/difference of the character but I am not sure that this does not remove too much of the humanity from Merrick. The appearance of the character is, I think, quite sufficient to point up the difference and perceived strangeness. This is a minor quibble though, because the character does still work very well with this voice and this particualr performer. There is no weak link in the cast. I find the coloratura soprano very harsh, but I think that this was actually intended in order to highlight her complete unsuitability as a potential partner for the gentle and sensitive Merrick.
The production is very well recorded with excellent camerawork and good quality digital sound. The picture is in NTSC and 16:9 format. The sound is Dolby Digital 2.0. There are optional subtitles in French, English and German.
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