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Title: Muggles, Beware!
Review: This is clearly a production intended for Lucius Malfoy and his social set. Polinesso even bears a close resemblance to Professor Snape. In short, it's very hard to look at. However, I can't second the recommendation of other reviewers to darken the screen and just listen. It's not well sung. How could it be, when the singers are asked to distort their instruments (their bodies) and pervert the affect of every aria in the most far-fetched manner possible. I'm not a conservative about opera productions, by the way. I heartily recommend Handel's "Theodora" and "Rodelinda" - both modernistic, both conducted by William Christie and sung gloriously. This Ariodante is simply a bad piece of work.
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