Conductor Riccardo Frizza has shared his reflections on Bellini’s opera I Puritani during its current run at the Royal Opera House in London.
The production marks a significant return for the work, which had not been staged at the Royal Opera House for 35 years [1]. This revival brings a rare bel canto masterpiece back to the Main Stage for a limited engagement.
Frizza said the work has become a treasured piece in his repertoire. He said that he first heard I Puritani after 25 years of conducting [2], an experience that deepened his overall appreciation of the bel canto style. His personal connection to the score informs the current interpretation presented to London audiences.
Critical reception of the production has been mixed. One review said soprano Lisette Oropesa was astounding [3], while another critic said the first act was slow and tedious [4]. Despite these differing views on pacing, the production received a 4/5 rating from an MSN review [5].
The current run of the opera continues on the Main Stage until July 19 [2]. The production was first announced on May 14 [1].
“The work has become a treasured piece that deepened his appreciation of bel canto.”
The staging of I Puritani highlights a broader trend in opera houses to revive neglected bel canto works. By bringing back a piece absent from its stage for over three decades, the Royal Opera House is balancing contemporary tastes with the preservation of technically demanding 19th-century vocal traditions.
