la rondine

In 1913, the directors of Vienna’s Karlstheater commissioned Puccini to compose a Viennese opera. By the time he finished the La Rondine, intended to be a more organic and entertaining version of the already popular “comic opera,” it was 1917 and World War I had broken out. As a result, the production debuted in Monte Carlo instead of Vienna.

Although it was not one of Puccini’s most celebrated pieces, this light-hearted and charming opera has become increasingly popular in the last few years with productions at the Met, the San Francisco Opera and, of course, Venice's famed opera house, La Fenice.

Filmed live during the January 2008 premiere, the production, directed by Graham Vick, features an outstanding international cast conducted by Carlo Rizzi.

The Fenice production was given a rousing review on Opera Chic, which noted: "Act I [was] commedia brillante, a sophisticated comedy from Hollywood's golden era that could have been made by Gregory La Cava or Jean Negulesco...Act II [was] a funny send-up -- with Jayne Mansfield look-alike super vixens, hawt sailors and giant Moulin Rouge pinup girls... and Act III [was] a minimalist, abstract beach...Vick adds a final scene -- Casablanca in reverse – giving depth to a truly problematic libretto. Fiorenza Cedolins [played] Magda with a strong dramatic presence, good looks and undeniable charisma."

“Fiorenza Cedolins was a superb Magda” (New York Sun, June 2008)