This 2004 live Munich performance conducted by. Ivor Bolton of Handel's Rodelinda is an eye opener for this viewer and no less. I report that I own three DVDs of this opera: 1998 London and 2012 New York ; then recently this 2004 Munich production.
So in short three generations of Rodelindas - and two versions by Andreas Scholl as Bertarido.
I was not impressed by the 1998 Glyndebourne version for I consider the great Antonacci miscast as Rodelinda. I was even less impressed by the 2011 Met production that had Fleming, whose wide repertoire in opera has its weakest link in Handel. Topped by a well past prime Scholl.
This 2004 Munich production is visually weakest of the three productions, yet musically towers over the other two by clear head and shoulder.
Ivor Bolton knows exactly what drama in Handel operas means. His singers share his vision totally in that the entire cast drove towards the ultimate expression of the drama in musical terms as Handel would have it. And all the singers delivered.
In the title role Dorothea Roschumann is miles ahead of rene Fleming (MET) in the title role. She is also more resplendent vocally than the capable Antonacci in glyndebourne.
Michael Chance was no longer in his vocal prime by 2004. No worry. This intelligent singer knows how to deploy his goods in all the arias of Bertarido, if his recitatives betrays slightly his actual vocal state. In similar vein but slightly lessor extent is Robson. Both counter tenors know Handel inside out and delivered definitive performances even if compare Chance with a 1998 Scholl, whose voice was great but not as outstanding dramatically.
I find the underrated Paul Nilon to be incomparable as Grimoaldo. This is what Handel would have wanted of in his dramatic tenor roles. Grimoaldo, same as Bajazet, is a major Handel tenor role. Nilon delivered a hundred percent.
Felicity Palmer is stentorian even in advanced age, and Chiummo out performing himself than any where else under Bolton.
The only bad news is the dark screening. Otherwise, singing with a cigarette and singing in the rain do not detract from the terrific cast's performance.