Rooco in Fidelio

”Johan Rydh achieves a wonderfully human interpretation of Rocco. He is clearly devoted to his daughter, and his interest in money seems to be more a means to the end of her happiness than anything else. But Rocco manages to justify turning a blind eye to the many injustices at his workplace through his devotion to Marzelline (a textbook example of “the banality of evil”). Mr Rydh convincingly follows Rocco’s development as “Fidelio’s” simple decency and genuine compassion for the prisoners starts to awaken Rocco’s conscience, a process given a jolt by Pizarro recruiting him to aid in Florestan’s murder. His warm, lyrical and expressive bass was an especial joy to listen to.”

Niklas Smith

http://seenandheard-international.com/2014/11/a-compelling-and-moving-fidelio-completes-karlstads-trilogy/