Rossini: Le Comte Ory, Paris 2017 – Philippe Talbot

   in Opera Now (May, 2019)
Talking of outlandish costumes, Le Comte Ory is on to a winner here, with its drunken men dressed as nuns. But at least in this production, filmed at the Opéra Comique, the habits are by Lacroix. It’s a fine-looking show, set by director Denis Podalydès in a church at the time of composition (1828), which keeps the action on the move once it gets going, which takes most of Act I. The singing is excellent and homogenous, with Philippe Talbot in the title role displaying a sweet voix mixte and fabulous comic timing, Julie Fuchs as a fluent Comtesse, and Gaëlle Arquez as an ardent Isolier. It boasts an excellent supporting …