Maria José Siri, Xenia Tziouvaras et al; Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/James Conlon
Naxos 8.660534-35 126:43 mins (2 discs)
Although it was Verdi’s most popular opera until Il trovatore and La traviata appeared on the scene, Ernani gets an outing only comparatively rarely nowadays, either on stage or on disc. This is early Verdi, so complicated plot twists and swashbuckling are the order of the day, the gist of the opera’s drama being not so much a love triangle as a love square, as the unhappy heroine is variously pursued by three men. Some of the music could be called ‘generic heroic’, as is to be expected from a work written during Verdi’s so-called ‘galley years’; nevertheless, the score is packed with engaging melodies and there is much for the newcomer to the opera to enjoy.
This recording was made live in the Sala Zubin Mehta at Florence’s Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in 2022. Live recordings come with inevitable compromises, and in this case the sound of scurrying, banging and applause proves a not inconsiderable distraction. However, the performance itself is not compromised: notable is the discipline exhibited by the chorus, crisply in sync with the spirited, characterful playing from the Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino under conductor James Conlon.
Outstanding among the roster of principals is Maria José Siri, whose performance is unfailingly vibrant: energised in the florid passages, lush and velvety at sentimental moments. Tenor Francesco Meli has a generous, open tone that suits the valiant nature of the title role, and each of the lower-voiced male principals – Roberto Frontali (Carlo), Vitalij Kowaljow (Silva) – brings a distinctive characterisation to his role. Overall, a fine performance with a real sense of drama, so long as you can blank out those scampering feet.
