This performance, made for Italian television, is led by the great singing actor Renato Capecchi who brings charisma and star-power to the title role. However, any cast of Gianni Schicchi is only as strong as the sum of its parts—and, more importantly, how well those parts fit together. Fortunately, the entire cast seems fully committed to both the comedy and the treacherously difficult music that Giacomo Puccini demands of them.

The result is an ensemble that feels crisp and tightly woven, without ever becoming rigid or overly fussy. With the guidance of conductor Antonino Votto, they make every change of meter and tempo feel like an organic reaction to the unfolding drama.