Casta Diva

I Capuleti e i Montecchi has been revived at Covent Garden for two key reasons, neither of which have anything particularly to do with Bellini’s music. The first is Anna Netrebko; the other is Elina Garanca. Both exclusive Deutsche Grammophon recording artists, this production serves as the London leg of their promotional tour for a new recording of the work, taped live in performance at Vienna last year, and which comes emblazoned with pictures of the gorgeous pair heaving in Sapphic ecstasy. As marketing goes, it could hardly be more direct in appeal, but it seems somewhat counterintuitive for an opera praised at its premiere for melodic chastity and its old-fashioned respect for classical conventions. On closer inspection, Capuleti itself offers something of a hybrid: whilst happily exploiting the lyrical forms of 18th century Italian…