There were so many reasons to attend the Verbier Festival this year for the Gianni Schicchi / Cavalleria Rusticana concert on Thursday, July 24, and let me give you a few to start with.
First, it was the role debut of Freddie De Tommaso as Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, and of Ludovic TĂ©zier as Alfio. No doubt the evening was bound to be a special one.
Second, getting to see one of my idols, Ludovic Tézier, less than an hour away from home? That doesn’t happen every day!
Third, simply being at the Verbier Festival is already a joy in itself. The organization is extraordinary — probably the best of any festival I’ve attended — and listening to opera surrounded by the mountains is a truly magical experience.
Fourth, was the unusual pairing of Gianni Schicchi with Cavalleria Rusticana. Everyone knows the traditional Cavalleria / Pagliacci combo — but last night was a refreshing break from the norm.
And what a treat! Just days before heading to Verona for the festival dearest to my heart (what’s up, Verdi?), I was thrilled to enjoy both operas performed back-to-back. And it was actually my first time hearing Gianni Schicchi live, which happens to be my favorite of Puccini’s Trittico.
The cast for Gianni Schicchi featured mostly unknown or very young singers — except for the legendary Bryn Terfel, who we usually see in tragic roles like Scarpia. But knowing his kindness and charisma in real life, I had no doubt he’d bring humor and flair to the stage — and he absolutely nailed it 150%! The festival even gave him a Valais cap and Swiss flag, which he wore on stage as part of his Buoso costume — delightful!
The only bad thing about Gianni Schicchi? It’s not long enough.
The young pair Ying Fang and Sungho Kim held their own beautifully, with “O mio babbino caro” receiving a massive ovation from the sold-out crowd. Asia continues to prove that it’s producing extraordinary talent, and I have no doubt singers like these have a bright future on European stages.
After a short intermission (and a quick word with the cast!), it was time for the drama — and the real reason I was in Verbier.
Cavalleria Rusticana, conducted by Andrea Battistoni (who stepped in last minute for Fabio Luisi — probably still recovering from his triumph at La Scala in Norma), delivered an unforgettable second act.
The star power of Ludovic Tézier and Freddie De Tommaso completely stole the show. These two men have remarkable chemistry on stage, and it’s such a pleasure to watch them. Although it was De Tommaso’s first time singing the role, it felt like he’d been doing it forever. Their confrontation after “Viva il vino” — driven by a brisk orchestra and a chorus belting at full force — was electric.
His “Addio alla mamma” was a true masterclass, complete with a few new touches I’d never seen before — and which I hope will become part of his signature. Tézier, as always, played the cool, calculating Alfio, with an unnerving gaze that silently commanded attention.
If you’ve been following my adventures for a while, you’ll know that my reviews are never just about technique. I write to tell a story, to share the emotion, to make people want to come to the opera, to fall in love with music, and most of all — to fill the theaters.
Nights like this make it easy to write. Too many critics lack love for opera, or context for the time we live in. Tearing down a singer for being off on one night? That’s lazy and heartless. Let’s remember — singers are not machines. Their imperfections make them vulnerable, yes — but also real, human, and beautiful.
In an age where artificial intelligence may soon be able to reproduce voices flawlessly, for me, opera will always be about the imperfection.
To close, I want to send a heartfelt thank you to the entire team at the Verbier Festival, who welcomed me the moment I arrived, right up to when I got back in my car to leave. Everything was flawlessly organized, the atmosphere was warm and generous, and the people clearly have a deep passion for doing things right — and they succeeded beautifully.
CAST
GIANNI SCHICCHI
Bryn Terfel Gianni Schicchi
Ying Fang Lauretta
Sungho Kim Rinuzzio
Elena Zilio Zita
Giorgi Guliashvili Gherardo
Katrīna Paula Felsberga Nella
Maryam Wocial Gherardino
Maksim Andreenkov Betto de Signa
Ossian Huskinson Simone
Theodore Platt Marco
Ellen Pearson La Ciesca
Felix Gygli Spinelloccio, Ser Amantio di Nicolao
Edward Birchinall Guccio
Anton Beliaev Pinello
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA
Yulia Matochkina Santuzza
Freddie De Tommaso Turiddu
Ludovic Tézier Alfio
Elena Zilio Lucia
Ava Dodd Lola
