A rousing and complete performance of Puccini original spaghetti western La Fanciulla Del West is below. If you haven’t time for the whole opera, watch the first few minutes for what may be the most imaginative beginning of an opera in years. The production is from the Royal Opera House in Stockholm. It features Nina Stemme in the title role. The rising young tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko is Dick Johnson. The fine Swedish baritone (I think he’s more likely a bass-baritone) John Lundgren is the jealous sheriff, Jack Rance. Rance is actually the biggest alpha male in the story, but he doesn’t get the girl because he’s a baritone. Don’t wait too long to watch the show’s start as you never know how long something like this will remain live.
Added April 8, 2022 The last two performances I put up have gone YouTube purgatory. Here’s one featuring Nina Stemme and Jonas Kauffman – from Vienna 2013.
I have 7 videos of Fanciulla and some audios. I didn’t come back for seconds on this one. Am I spoiled???? I saw Corelli for the first time in this role. The thrill of getting his autograph being an opera mad teen. My favorite audio is his Met broadcast with Dorothy Kirsten who has the sweetest high notes of any Mini. My favorite video Mini is Antoinetta Stella. And my favorite video bandit is Ken Neate, both old b/w. Neate, who I had not heard of, has an extremely beautiful voice, and a sweet charm to his acting.
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Am I addicted to Fanciulla…….?? I would name my tiny ranch Fanciulla del West. And in my most romantic fantasies I would be or sing Fanciulla del West…………….My true confession………
Forgot to mention………my favorite video Rance is Sherrill Milnes. Others have no depth of character. Milnes makes me feel the inner torment beneath the bravado. At the end, he’s the one I care about…..