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Reviews (3)

Good, but I've seen better
This tape features some of the greatest names in opera, from Price, to Nilsson.Personally, I did not enjoy this tape as much as I thought I would because most of the singers were already past thier prime.Pavarotti's and Price's heads almost exploded by the end of thier duet from Verdi's "Un Ballo en Maschera."You can hear audible ditereoration in Sutherland's middle register, and the first aria by Eva Marton, "In questa reggia," from Puccini's Turandot, was not given it's justice.To add to the list of mistakes, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa made a visible mistake singing "Dove sono."What I enjoyed about this tape was seeing the singers past, present and future all on the same stage at the end of the video, which was very heart-warming.To reminise on the good-old-days, this would be the perfect video, but if you want to hear the aria's sang the way they should be, find older recordings of your favorite artis or purchase something from someone recent.

interrupted melody
Yes, this is indeed a wonderful remembrance of the greatnes of the Metropolitan Opera Centennial Gala. Sadly to note is the fact that my tapes, received for the second time, ( first time on tape No. 2 was Wagners Lohengrin instead of the right one), almost at the end when Pavarotti and Leontyce Price were singing the duet from Ballo in Maschera, the tape came to its end, so this is the interrupted melody; also missing is the conclusion when the company sings Happy Birthday. Anyway this is a marvelous concert to be seen many times; it fully deserves 5 stars.

Opera Collectable
A must for opera fans, a real collectable one!The Video released from Metropolitan Opera presenting its centennial galainto 2 parts: part I includes the opera stars like Marton, Te kanawa, Freni, Kraus, Domingo, Von Stade and Battle with their excellent performances.More stars have been the focus on stage in part II, like Price, Nilsson, Horne, Pavarotti, Cotrubas and Caballe.The bonus of the gala was the special apperances of many operatic legendary singers, like Milanov, Rise, Steber,etc. Just to make it a one-time memorable experience to feel the unique charisma and passion of the Met both in its glorious history and live performance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Vocals    3. Performing Arts - Ballet/Dance    4. Special Interest    5. V/a Compilations   

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Reviews (1)

A Pleasant Surprise
I found this disc by searching for "Sylvie Guillem."For some reason, Sylvie's name appears in the cast list, even though she does not perform in this production. This caused me some initial disappointment.I am posting this review so that others will not be misled, and to evaluate the disc on it's merits.
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Subjects:  1. Ballet    2. Classical    3. Classical Artists    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Opera    6. V/a Compilations   

Editorial Review

Offenbach's operetta Read more

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Reviews (6)

Fresh comedy and cheerful melodies
In the event you would wish to watch something very light, fresh, cheerful and relaxing in dvd form available operetes, then this may be your choice which you can enjoy until the end.
Zurich Opera House is so mediocre...to do with the audience?
This production is tres epatant for all the bankers and industrialists and moribund widows of Zurich on a Saturday night but is overblown, silly and distracts from the music. E Schmarre as the Swiss would say. Like all the productions - yes I mean ALL - at the world's most expensive but most bland Opera House the combination of must-be-Swiss chorus, players and above all audience reduces even the music to occasional jolliness but no thrills and even less magic.The best thing to do with this is to turn it on for the music and don't look. Also don't listen too hard to the Francais Federal. Ugly! For real opera go to the cheapest seats in Vienna, New York, London, Berlin or Milan. Never be tempted into the horrid Zurich opera house. Not even to the front row.

Delicious Work Masterfully Performed
It is so rare to see an Offenbach operetta performed today that, if nothing else, this is worth the price for the sake of curiosity. It happens to be a delightful work (much of it used in Rosenthal's ballet arrangement "Gait� Parisienne"). The text is insouciant and witty, and the music sparkles. The beautiful Zurich Opera cast from strength: Vasselina Kassarova as H�l�ne is a delight. She also happens to be one of the pre-eminent artists of our time, a mezzo of radiant voice, temperament, splendid technique, with rare coloratura skills. Mr. van der Walt whose name looks Dutch sounds like a French tenor of old, a light but carrying sound, full of color, with heady top notes and truly elegant musical artistry. The supporting cast is all superb, with exact singing and plenty of joie. Nikolaus Harnoncourt, so long associated with Zurich in Monteverdi and Mozart does wonders for Offenbach. It is my understanding that 19th century instruments were used. The clarity, color, inflections he gets from his orchestra are astonishing. His inner drive, rubato, his sheer joy of music making comes through in every bar of the score. It is indeed a pleasure to see this conductor whom I first encountered in ascerbic albeit moving, austere performances of Bach Cantatas and Passions, making such successful excursions into the romantic theatre repertoire. I hope he has more up his sleeve. Get this DVD..... you'll go back to it. By the way, the production is nothing special but the acting is invariably good, with excellent rapport within the ensemble. It looks well directed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    3. Opera/Operetta    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Opera   

Editorial Review

This video is one of the Opera World series of12 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas produced for television in 1982. Aimingfor a broad public, the series' producers assembled crossover casts ofSavoyards, comedians, song-and-dance types, and Americans affectingBritish accents. The results are erratic, and Read more

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Reviews (19)

Camp, Camp, Camp and we love it!
My boys (including my husband) are diehard Simpsons fans. In the famous Sidewhow Bob episode where he tries to kill Bart, Bart requests that Bob first sing the entire HMS Pinafore from Gilbert and Sullivan. My 10 year old began to sing along often enough so that I thought it would be a good idea to buy the soundtrack.
BAD, BAD, BAD!
Do not waste your money on any of the Opera World series.I bought a VHS series of six Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, and I am SO sorry I wasted my money.I grew up on Gilbert and Sullivan (they were one of my mother's favorites) and these productions are a slap in the face to these two geniuses.

Frankie Speaking
A "liberal" interpretation of the holy texts, but with many nice touches. To my mind the big issue is the casting of Frankie Howerd as Sir Joseph. Howerd was a stand-up comic from a bygone era and was a sort of likeable clown. (Americans might think of Redd Foxx.) I enjoyed seeing Howerd's over-the-top hamming and mugging but many will not. He is no singer, and does a sort of "Rex Harrison" with his songs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Performing Arts - Opera   

Editorial Review

This is not strictly Verdi's Read more

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Reviews (18)

My first and favorite Otello
First things first, I love Katia Ricciarelli and Placido Domingo. They are my two favorite opera singers ever. That being said, I can't say anything bad about them!!
A good film totally ruined by the Director.
This film is not for Opera funs especially for connoisseurs of Verdi's Otello. Franco Zeffirelli simply presents his own version of the Opera and NOT VERDI'S. The film starts brilliantly with Otello's ship in the high seas in a most spectacular storm. Problems begin as soon as Otello lands in Cyprus. (Cyprus by the way and not Venice! as mentioned at the back of the DVD by some inexcusably ignorant person). Music from a ballet score that Verdi had written for Paris emerges instead of the expected chorus. The rest of the act is fine except for the fact that Otello points to the stars (the Pleiades) at Desdemona inside his bedroom (where she can see no stars) and two minutes later he takes Desdemona on the harbour for a walk (where she could see the stars) but it is later on the score, so the point is missed. The problems really start from act 2. After Iago's credo, which by the way is very well done, Zeffirelli cuts the famous duet between Otello and Iago (I like that not!) and then alters the sequence of the music in a most indescribable way.From there on we are watching a version of the Opera by Zeffirelli and not Verdi. I bought the Opera for Verdi, thank you very much. No wonder that the great conductor Carlos Kleiber who led the same principals at La Scala, Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera, refused to be associated with this film.
Great Period....And It's A Movie After All.......
Here's the bottom line: Zefferelli made the lengthy Verdi opera into a 2 hour mainstream movie. It will always be more a movie than a traditional opera. A stage version can run up to 3 hours and in the case of Wagner's Gotterdammerung 6 hrs. A movie is limited in time. Zefferelli' intentions are noble. He wishes to get audiences turned on to opera, through the seductive medium of visual cinematography and powerful Oscar-worthy drama. The omissions in this film do not minimize the plot and the spirit of the work is never sacrificed. Even Shakespeare himself would be proud of this version. Think of it as a highlights of Verdi's opera, too. Do we really need Desdemona's pretty little "Willow Song" ? Its omission does not take away from the power of the drama. And so what if there is new additional dance music. It's appropriate for the feast scenes. And the Overture during the closing credits is nothing to fear. From the opening scene of the sea storm, to the doubts of seeds planted by interludes between Cassio and Desdemona, to the lower levels of the castle where Iago plots and rages against God, to the sumptuous feasts, to the grim finale, this is the best Otello ever made.
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    3. Opera/Operetta    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Opera   

Editorial Review

Watching the Vienna Philharmonic, Georg Solti, and a stellar cast record Wagner's immense Read more

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Reviews (6)

Closest to Perfection
If you have never watched or listened to Richard Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung, don't read any further--it would be a waste of your time.This item really only has appeal for Wagnerites.
Entertaining, informative, and just plain wonderful
This DVD consists of two separate contents. Wonderful documentary of how a great recording was made
This is a BBC TV documentary that takes us behind the scenes for the recording of the final opera of Wagner's Ring -- Götterdämmerung -- for Decca Records in the early 60s. The very engaging story behind the recording of the Decca Ring is presented in record producer John Culshaw's book "Ring Resounding," and this documentary is a nice complement to the book (which briefly discusses filming of the documentary). Culshaw's book made recording the Ring seem like commanding an army -- huge amounts of logistics and all manner of problems (not the least of which were tempermental singers). The documentary is hugely enjoyable as we see how several scenes in a great recording was made (and all the tension that ensued in making it). An added bonus of this DVD is that it includes a very generous (70-80 minutes) of audio highlights from the full Ring recording in Dolby Digital Surround Sound -- a bonus that really adds to the value of the DVD. Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Documentary    3. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio   

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Reviews (8)

An irrelevant bit of fluff
Mario Lanza had an amazing voice and a tragic life and career.By all rights, his story should make for a fascinating video.Unfortunately, this effort is laughably inadequate and is nothing more than a poorly arranged pastiche of isolated facts, interviews and sound bites that do little to enshrine Lanza's talent or illuminate his life.Indeed, the viewer unfamiliar with Lanza'a biography would be little enlightened by the thin patchwork of loosely woven information presented here.Placido Domingo's ridiculous buffon hair style and comic accent only serve to enhance the aburdity of this production.
The American Caruso
I bought the DVD because of the music which is sung in it

What could have been?
not really -but what was, to the listener we heard a voice that can only be described as magical. had he been lost to opera and the "elite" would the likes of us have heard this magnificent voice-i doubt it. this man had it all and he shared that magic to millions -and still does. i was a mere 11years young when i first heard "Lanza" and now 50years later he can still reduce me to tears.no other tenor has done that before or since what came out of this dvd for me was that yes he was used by many -but loved by millions and that will continue no matter what was said by some twisted individuals because that voice will live on as each generation passes-i certainly do not think that the programme was trash indeed i felt quite emotional watching it.long may programmes be made about this fabulous artiste he deserves to live in our memories. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical Artists    2. Documentary    3. Performing Arts    4. Standards   

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Reviews (1)

THE definitive Pagliacci!
Okay, it's not the perfect video; despite my 5-star rating, I want to make that clear. It's black and white; the voice dubbing is often out of synch; the English subtitles disappear altogether for long stretches. I can see how these and other issues related to the film's age could mar the experience for some viewers.
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    3. Opera/Operetta    4. Performing Arts - Opera   

Editorial Review

This is both rare and well-done: a sadly neglected grandopera, as spectacular in its own way as Read more

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Reviews (7)

grand 19th century opera, very well done
The singing of all the principals is excellent, especially Verrett, Domingo and Swenson.The production of this complex, multi-scene work is fine, the conducting a little leaden.But all in all, it is surely the best available recording (3 other live performances on CD) of an archetypal mid-19th century cultural experience (with all it non-politically correct moments).Wonderful, if very carefully constructed melodic lines--this is where Verdi's great Don Carlos comes from.An essential operatic DVD.

19th Century elevator music!
The music was sweet, but the only discernible tune that I noticed was Ruth Ann Swenson's, her quoting what her lover sang to her before he went to sea, and even that tune was not particularly defined.I sigh only watched the 1st act, from this I inferred that the rest of the thing was going to be more of the same and I wasn't willing to sit through another 2 hours and 28 minutes to find out whether I was wrong.This is not Meyerbeer's customary coloratura fare, and I was disappointed and edgy with boredom.Domingo of course was wonderful & very frenetic and energetic in his character's enthusiasm.Everyone did a wonderful job with his singing and acting.Verrett sang a little but strangely did not take a curtain call after the 1st act.I wonder why.The music was sweet, pleasant but came across to me as one long recitative, which I always find tedious however sweet.I will either trash this DVD or save it for a few years and give it a second chance, as a rule I like Meyerbeer, though never as well as I like Donizetti.The plot was making me angry when I shut it off.The open-minded tolerance of the clergy does that to me.

Better Than It Deserves
This is a somewhat mediocre opera given a great production that employs some superb talent.Domingo, Verrett and Swenson are in fine voice, the production values are top-notch, but the material is second-rate and terribly old-fashioned.(At times one can practically sense the singers trying awfully hard to keep a straight face.) This is neither Meyerbeer's nor Scribe's finest hour: a hokey, historically inaccurate (of course) mess which fails both musically and dramatically. (The emotionally fickle tenor [i.e. one of the stars!] disappears 3/4s of the way through, never to be heard from again.How bizarre is that?)Everyone involved acquits themselves admirably, but what is fun and colorful for the first few acts quickly becomes tiresome and dull.Whereas it's great to see the little-filmed Verrett and Swenson, there are certainly better opportunities to see Domingo in DVDs of finer operas.A curiosity, certainly...but not worth full price. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    3. Opera/Operetta    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Opera   

Editorial Review

An uneasy cross between a movie and a theater production, this version of Gilbert and Sullivan's masterpiece Read more

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Reviews (10)

Tsk-tsk to the naysayers
If you like the music and lyrics of The Mikado, this version is excellent.All of the main characters are brilliantly portrayed, including Ko-ko, Nanki-Poo, Poo-bah and Yum yum. William Conrad's voice is borderline, but his acting is fine. This DVD would be a bargain at twice the price.

A surprising production
Who would have believed that Cannon or the Fat Man could carry a tune, but William Conrad isn't too bad.He may never win a Grammy, but in this production of the Operetta, he does quite a decent job.Even if you are not a fan of Opera, Gilbert and Sullivan is still easy to enjoy because their storylines are not as depressing as regular operas. Also, the English dialogue makes the story much more accessible to a wider audience.I look forward to the release of Pirates of Penzance, Linda Ronstadts version, of course, so that I can have two very enjoyable muscials available any time I wish.The productions may not be Hollywood lavish, but they are effective and entertaining.

Glorious voices and good comedy
Refer to the reviews that actually review instead of talking about their feelings, and my opinions are similar. The Opera World version of The Mikado is one of the picks of that series and infinitely better than any other version I've seen - and that would be just about all of them. We have excellent casting in most of the named parts except for William Conrad, whose elfin take on the part is cute but who manages to only barely hold on to the notes. But every time I watch, I catch another little nuance in facial expressions (watch for Peep Bo's sly little looks). And, best of all, the glorious voices of Nanki-Poo (John Stewart) and Yum Yum (Kate Flowers)! If I could find any thing else with Mr. Stewart's voice I'd snap it up in a heartbeat! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Performing Arts - Opera   

Editorial Review

This is a tasty morsel to appease, at least momentarily, the world's apparentlyinsatiable hunger for tenor voices. Those who wish Plácido Domingo,Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, and Andrea Boccelli could sing Americanlight classical tunes without an accent will here find their wishes fulfilled.In this material, Nathan Granner, Daniel Montenegro, and Mauricio O'Reillyare closer to Broadway than the Metropolitan Opera, but they have goodvoices and the material is carefully chosen to display their strengths. Read more

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Reviews (11)

Still an amazing show
No offense to the other two great singers on this album, but I'd like to talk about my best friend Nathan who is one of "The American Tenors" and continues to tour and promote this show.
Great New Trio
These three guys are great!Their voices are so powerful, and beautiful!One word I think about sums up what they are:AWESOME! I especially like the wondeful song, "Be My Love.""America the Beautiful,"is another favorite.After all, who can sing American patriotic songs like Americans?!Next to the Irish Tenors, this group is my second favorite singing trio.

Not a bad review,but instead...
Sorry to jump in here, but, Mr. Wilson's review does not seem to be at all informed. What about 'Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair', Shennandoah, or If I Loved You, to name a few tracks on this album are not American Classics? I'm not sure, but the last time I checked, at least part of Nathan Granner was african american. SO "Blacks" are Not left out. Actually, all three of these young men ar minorities, so please, though Mr. Wilson probably will not check his handywork again on this site, understand that his review is not informed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Collections-Artist Desc.    3. Music Videos - Classical    4. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    5. V/a Compilations   

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Reviews (2)

Very Very Fine.
This video is really quite good. It does not have subtitles, but I still love it. Actually it is a little good that it doesn't have subtitles, because if a video in another language does have subtitles, then you'd be looking at the subtitles the whole time instead of the movie. Horst Gebhart is a good Tomino,& has a beautiful tenor voice. Dieter Scholtz is a good Papagano, Has a good baritone voice,is a great actor, & looks good for the part(even though he looks a little stout). I really like the bass voice of Hermann Chistian Polster as Sarastro. All of the rest of the cast is good. The only costumes that I don't like are the three laidies' costomes. They look like Japanese women with dyed hair, & green, or purple dresses. But don't let that discourage you out of getting this video. You probably won't want this video if it is the first version you see, because it has no subtitles, but if you have seen others, or you speak a little German, then this is the version for you!if you try to remember the translation from the Ingmar Bergman version, then you probably should get another version, because in the Bergman version, they cut out scenes, & the translation is different from the real thing.

Beautiful and well sung
This is a beautiful production.The sets are amazing and the cast is wonderful.The Tamino is one of the best I have ever seen.The only problem with this production is it has no subtitles. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    3. Opera/Operetta    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Opera   

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Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Christmas / Chanukkah    3. Classical   

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Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Music Video    3. Performance    4. Performing Arts - Opera   

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Editorial Review

John Gay's Read more

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Reviews (9)

RETRAIN ME BACK!
This is an excellent show.I first saw it on PBS.Roger does a great job, not what you would expect.The fun back story is that Roger had to be classically trained to do this part and when he was done, he found he couldn't perform 'Who' music.He went back to the vocal coach in a panic and he 'retrained' Roger to go back to singing in a 'rock' voice.He was fine then, once he would scream properly!
Gritty Beggar's Opera On the Whole a Success
To those reviewers who long for the Olivier version and who think of The Beggar's Opera through the charming lens of the 1920s revival: Gay would be spinning in his grave if he ever heard someone use the word "romantic" in conjunction with his acid little play.I know that the play took on a life of its own, and was revived virtually every season throughout the 18th century, but let's not forget that he was out to write a scathing satire of the political and social corruptions of his day: the very idea of having a beggar write an "opera" for the marriage celebration of two catch-singers seemed so outrageous that the audience wasn't sure whether or not to boo it offstage until the middle of the first act.Audiences in 1728 loved it because it ridiculed rich and powerful political figures while it skewered the pretensions of Italian opera and opera-singers; audiences afterwards got charmed by the songs and by the mythology of its characters, as the play lost its immediate topical sting.
(none)
A very good preduction overall if not slightly 'uncut'...however, all those other reviewers who say that the olivier version has 'disapeared' should try looking on the amazon.co.uk website where it is available on either region 2 dvd or PAL video. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    3. Opera/Operetta    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Opera   

Editorial Review

Critics may remain divided over Andrea Bocelli's operatic credentials, but the popular verdict long ago crowned thesightless tenor as a crossover champion, a victory that will only be reinforced by this handsomely produced video companion to Read more

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Reviews (10)

Stunning audibly and visibly
Absoltely stunning.Each performance is a masterpiece.Moreover, the DVD is engineered to movie standards, which is far from the case with many music DVDs.

Special Edition with both DVD & CD is available
Instead of this DVD alone, I suggest the Bocelli, Andrea : Sacred Arias CD & DVD Special Edition (ASIN: B0000CE9VO).It includes the full 77 minute concert on DVD, plus the two bonus tracks on the DVD, plus the full 72 minute CD. This includes two bonus tracks on the CD not available on the original CD. Amazingly, the Special Edition is a few dollars less than the DVD alone.What a bargain!This is an amazing concert with a tremendous picture quality on a big screen TV.It is one of those DVD's that captures the feeling of "being there".A must-see for any Andrea Bocelli fan.

Bocelli and Myung-Wung Chung: A stellar combination
A beautiful DVD!Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Artists    3. Classical Vocals    4. Music Videos - Classical   

Editorial Review

For those who want a home video that preserves the kind of treatmentVerdi's Read more

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Reviews (18)

A great Otello with a weak link
Verdi's "Otello" is one of the greatest 19th century operas. If in "Regoletto" the revolutionary idea of music drama was still in its initial stage, then in "Otello" Verdi, at seventy-three years of age, had fully realized the idea. Shakespeare's drama Othello couldn't be a better subject to develop a music drama, and Arrigo Boito's libretto was created for Verdi's miraculous music power. The grip is on right from the extraordinary beginning storm scene, and continuously the drama goes non-stop till the last note of the opera. Little will you hear the enchanting tunes that were abundant in earlier Verdi operas. In "Otello" music embraces the libretto as a whole, vitality and power emerges from within.
Splendid
This is a rather traditional, if spare, presentation of Verdi's masterpiece with a superb cast.Domingo and Te Kanawa are at their peak and both sing and act magnificently.The real surprise for me was Leiferkus, whom I have seen in person in the past and have not enjoyed; here, however, he is absolutely marvelous.In short, you can't go wrong with this DVD, which should make a fine companion piece to the later film of Domingo and Fleming at the Met. And how poignant it is to see Lady Diana applauding from the audience during the curtain call.

Otello Supreme
There are so many wonderful facets to this version of Verdi's Otello, and once you see it there will be no doubt in your mind that it's easily the best production out.
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Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    3. Opera/Operetta    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Opera   

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Reviews (3)

gift of magi
wa