This spectacular opera, premiered a year ago, was devised by the British writer, librettist and translator Jeremy Sams. With a story based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the piece draws on works by figures of the Baroque era, Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau, Purcell et al, for its music. It revives the 18th century tradition of the pasticcio, taking arias from a variety of different sources and setting them to a new libretto.
With William Christie in the pit and a star-studded list of singers (Danielle de Niese, David Daniels, Joyce DiDonato and more, all quite obviously revelling in their roles), the musical standards are high. The singers and other baroque specialists collaborated with Sams in suggesting arias and ensembles that might be appropriate for the various dramatic situations, e.g. revenge aria, rage aria, even a mixed quartet that might sound like two couples waking up. (The solution to that last-mentioned is to be found in Vivaldi’s La Verità in Cimento!) In consequence, all the main roles have at least one, and sometimes several, show-stopping numbers, few of which are at all well-known.
The whole works exceedingly well. Luca Pisaroni’s portrayal of Caliban, who looks as if he’s come straight out of a heavy metal band, is very moving, while Danielle de Niese’s sprite Ariel is a bundle of impish fun whose vocal exploits in Act 1 are simply sensational. David Daniels and Joyce DiDonato are in top form, and I was very taken with Lisette Oropesa (a name new to me) as Miranda. As for the arrival of Plácido Domingo as Neptune, you’ll have to watch the DVD to find out!
At three hours, you certainly get your money’s worth, and a vast amount of innocent pleasure. Ideal post-prandial viewing for Boxing Day!
A note on this page
Originally published by Anne McAlister, recovered from mmmusic's own archive and reproduced here as the critic wrote it.
Questions about this recording
What is The Enchanted Island?
A pasticcio opera devised by writer, librettist and translator Jeremy Sams, drawing on works by Baroque-era composers, Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau, Purcell and others, set to a new libretto based on Shakespeare's The Tempest and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
How were the individual arias chosen?
The singers and other Baroque specialists collaborated with Sams in suggesting arias and ensembles appropriate to the dramatic situations, a revenge aria, a rage aria, even a mixed quartet for two couples waking up, found in Vivaldi's La Verità in Cimento.
Who's in the cast?
Danielle de Niese as Ariel, David Daniels, Joyce DiDonato, Luca Pisaroni as Caliban and Lisette Oropesa as Miranda, with William Christie conducting the Metropolitan Opera, and Plácido Domingo appearing as Neptune.
Is this recording still available to buy?
This 2012 Metropolitan Opera DVD release (Virgin, catalogue 404 2499) may need checking with specialist classical retailers for current stock. We don't run an in-house shop, so we link out to Amazon and Discogs below.
