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Reviews (1)

This is a Comedy in Spite of the Title
This is a comedy with a ridiculous plot (modeled after Roman History).The music direction and orchestra are very good as you would expect of Ostmann and the Schwetzingen festival orchestra.The sound is good and the four principal singers are good to excellent.The music is good Handel.The plot is the machinations of Agrippina (Barbara Daniels) in order to put her son Nerone (David Kuebler) on the throne or as her husband's (Claudio, Gunther von Kannen) successor.At the same time, Poppea (Janice Hall) is learning from Agrippina and trying to become a major power behind the throne or empress by the methods of Agrippina.Poppea was a mistress of the miserable Ottone who is cut out of the succession during the action, and is juggling both Claudio and Nerone as lovers currently.The emperor Claudio is a bore with inflated ideas about his sexual attractiveness and generally not too bright.Agripinna is a hypocritical manipulator who pulls out all the stops a middle aged woman can to get her husband to do what she wants.Nerone is a silly self-centered kid who also isn't very smart and seems to be handled by his mother.All the same, he has a suitably sinister air when he isn't at the center of the action.Poppea is the brightest star of the group with really superb singing as an amoral courtesan who will do whatever it takes and be as hypocritical as she needs to be to get to her goals.The acting that conveys this is excellent in a broad comic way.Poppea's singing is outstanding and she is the one we want to here about.The remaining principals also sing well, especially Claudio who manages to sing accurately while carrying out the role as a bufoon.The only complaint I have about this production is the singing of Ottone who has several arias.His baritone is wobbly and terribly inaccurate.The only real remedy is to fast forward through these and realize it doesn't mar the action. ... Read more

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

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Reviews (1)

Lacking in chemistry
Too bad.Because Renata Tebaldi's voice is beautiful, as usual, although I have heard her Vissi d'arte done better. She seemed to be straining somewhat.Her chemistry with Cavaradossi was so lacking you find yourself wondering if they ever really were lovers.No passionate kiss when he is supposedly about to die, etc.George London is the big winner here.Although I have heard his "Te Deum" also done better, his overall Scarpia is excellently conceived, and his byplay with Tebaldi in Act 2 makes this act the strongest one. Eugene Tobin's Cavaradossi looked stiff and out of place.He has a sweet voice but often sings off key in the middle register! His high notes can be quite beautiful and his "E lucevan le stelle" was beautifully done. The orchestration lacks the power necessary to make those goosebumps appear. The grainy texture of black and white carries no subtitles. ... Read more

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

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Reviews (6)

Zucker is an embarassment
This film could have been a real treasure - had the interviewer been someone other than the intensely dislikable and (as an interviewer) utterly incompetent Stefan Zucker.The opportunity to interview these great divas was a rare one and, in most cases, Zucker just blew it, especially with Marcella Pobb?.Zucker asks the dumbest questions - like, "What was the highest note you ever sang?"He has some bizarre obsession with chest voice and asks most of the divas if they used it.Pobb? quite rightly throws him out of her apartment after he is foolish and impertinent enough to ask why she left the Met.(There was some unhappy love affair and obviously she wasn't going to discuss that, so why ask?)
Opera Fanatic: Stefan And The Divas
"What are the various aspects of expressive singing?" is one of the questions Stefan Zucker puts to the divas. They discuss and demonstrate their interpretations, singing brief excerpts from Norma, Butterfly, Travatore, Traviata, Fanciulla, and Adriana (Olivero, age 86, performs the Monologo). The film includes footage from 40 years ago -- some of which is not otherwise on video.
Long Live the Vulgarians!!
This beautifully filmed video offers a nostalgic glimpse into an era where strong feelings and personality were expressed on stage and restraint was practiced in life. This was the world these divas lived in.Things are reversed now and life has become the drama and the stage is for purity.Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Musicals    3. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    4. Opera/Operetta    5. V/a Compilations   

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Reviews (1)

Good Freni and brush up on your Spanish
This is a very decent production of the Puccini masterpiece, marred only (for some) by the Spanish subtitles--since this was obviously taken off the air from some Spanish telecast. The packaging informs us that theproduction is from 1990, the title role is sung by Mirella Freni and DesGrieux by Petr Dvorsky, and Silvio Varviso conducts. [Amazon.com lists thelatter as Director.] Even the tape itself does not tell us the rest of thecast or even the house in which the opera is presented. Now, Bel Canto,this is not very user friendly. In fact, when I phoned for information, Igot was the warehouse that told me the video was no longer available!Read more

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

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Reviews (5)

Stunning performances by all involved
When the video opened I was a little scared.The stage seemed small, cramped, and the sets and costumes have a brown with toast accents theme (it's a performance from 1978, after all).But then the singing starts.The Orovoso has a deep, authoratative voice and a commanding presence.The tenor basically yells all of his lines, but he yells them with conviction, and I'm convinced he's yelling because he was angry at the bad wig and mutton-chop sideburns he wears throughout.Cossotto sings well as Adalgesia, but seems more interested in milking the audience for applause than in presenting a character.Caballe was having a great night, singing a lovely "Casta Diva" although she barks out a few of her high notes in the first two acts.Based on this video it's hard to understand why she earned criticism for not being a convincing actress, and as good as she was in the first two acts she is absolutely on fire in the third.This is a great performance.

The real Enchantment of the "Casta Diva"
Just incredible. Caball� is the most amazing soprano since Callas sing Norma. She declaim peace in "Casta Diva" and declare war in "Guerra Guerra!" with the same capacity, beauty and power. Casta Diva
Just incredible. Caball� is the most amazing soprano ever since Maria Callas playing Norma. She declaim "pace" in "Casta Diva" and war in "Guerra, Guerra!" with the same capacitance, beautifully and strongly. She act with her voice like no one can doRead more

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

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Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. Opera/Operetta    4. Performing Arts - Opera   

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Reviews (1)

A Fun Filled Opera
This is a delightful, two act comedy that makes a good introduction to opera in general.The cast is a good one with every singer in good voiceand with superior acting.When this opera was first staged, the audiencedemanded a second complete performance as an encore!It is easy tounderstand why.There are several comic turns to the plot as the secretlymarried couple finally work out their complex relationships with the newwife's father, aunt (who wants to marry the new husband), sister andanother suitor for the newly married bride! ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

This remarkable music documentary takes us deep into Russian opera, avast, rich, and (for Western audiences) largely unexplored territory. It givesmany great moments from works that have entered the Western repertoire (Read more

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Reviews (4)

Marvellous all-round
If you have the slightest interest in russian opera, you just can't miss this. In surprisingly good images and sound (the material being several decades old but carefully restored), in this two-part documentary you will be presented with gems from works all too little performed in western opera houses and from singers the tragic confluence of the Stalin terror and the second world war mostly prevented from travelling west; actually, most of the featured singers will be known in western countries solely from recordings licenced by western companies after the war.
Surprisingly good
I received this video as a gift a while back and finally got around to seeing it.I did not have high expectations at first, but as I watched it, I found it to be pretty good.
Rare Footage and Brilliant Singing from Moscow
Not only is the vocalism of these exceptional glimpses of historic Bolshoi performances stunning, the video contains scenes from Glinka's operas "A Life for the Tsar" and "Ruslan and Lyudmila," as well as a scene from Dargomizhsky's "Rusalka." Tapes of these works cannot be found in the West; thus this video is also an important historical document. Other offerings are from the more-to-be-expected Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky operas. A remarkable bonus is a performance of Gremin's aria from "Eugene Onegin" by Marc Reizen at age 90 (!), still in tip-top vocal form. The overview of the other virtuoso singers is just as thrilling. For anyone who likes good singing, this tape is a MUST! ... Read more

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Reviews (3)

Exquisite Sutherland
A great performance by a once in a lifetime performer with amazing vocal resources.Viewer from SF stating Sutherland was past prime is incorrect. This was filmed in 1976 when she was very much in prime. Second CoventGarden Borgia was done in 80 but voice still immaculate.

Brava, diva!!!!!!!!
Sutherland was in her dramatic best in this tape. The opera showed off her supreme powers as the only true Dramatic coloratura soprano of our time. Dame Joan was just slightly past her prime here, but that's still way goodenough to make all other sopranos pale in comparison! Truly the "Voiceof the Century"!

Italian Opera no subtitles
This is an opera in Italian. I couldn't understand a word of it. I was looking for a documentary/biography on Lucretia Borgia so I bought this video. While it is of great quality and would be appreciated by someone whounderstood Italian and appreciated opera, it is not my taste. ... 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. Classical    2. Classical Vocals    3. Music Videos - Classical    4. Musical Features    5. Opera/Operetta   

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Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. Opera/Operetta    4. Performing Arts - Opera   

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Reviews (8)

I've seen both
OK. Here'e the deal: The term "original" for the Ustinov version is a misnomer, and the opera is not a "remake." Britten's opera, first produced in 1951 (and subsequently produced in a revised version in1960) is based on Melville's novella, first published postumously in 1924(I think?). This operatic version is a video of a recent English NationalOpera production, and has little, if anything, to do with the movie.I'veseen both versions (and read the book). Billy Budd is one of my all timefavorite operas and this is a particularly fine production. PhilipLangridge's performance is outstanding, and the staging is thoughtful andwell designed. However, Britten isn't for everyone. Billy Budd can be a bitof an acquired taste, so know what you're getting into or keep an open mindbefore taking the plunge. Certainly the rewards are great. The Ustinovvideo is available for rental at various places. Terrence Stamp isexcellent. Billy is a difficult role to present believably (and ThomasAllen, as the operatic Billy, is wonderful musically, but can't matchStamp's marvellous, frank naievete). Because my taste in Veres runs more toPhilip Langridge than to Peter Ustinov, I didn't find Ustinov's portrayalparticularly satisfying, but this may be more of a personal preference. The opera (with a libretto by E.M. Forster and Eric Crozier) is closer tothe original Melville with one large exception. In the opera, the officersrecognize the inevitability of hanging Billy right away and Vere remainssilent in tortured consent, whereas in the book and in the movie, Vere hasto convince the drumhead court of it's unpleasant duty to hang Billy. Themovie fleshes out Melville's narrative with additional action, though it,too, remains fairly close to Melvilles basic idea. So, there you have thechronology and parentage of the versions in question. If anything, thereseem to be a few elements Ustinov took from Britten/Forster rather thanfrom Melville.

No shame
The original 1962 Billy Budd, directed by, and starred in by Peter Ustinov, is a classic.One of my favorite movies of all time.I remember seeing it while serving in the US Navy.The story is very compelling andheart-wrenching.I've been telling my wife all about the movie and set outto search for it, but the only Billy Budd movie I could find is this one. Iwas very dissappointed because an opera, to me, is foolish and annoying.Ihope Amazon can offer the "real" movie soon.I will be the firstone in line to get it.

a viewer
This is a powerful story of good & evil, well acted as well as suberbly sung.(Don't always get both in opera productions!)Thomas Allen is able to project the simple goodness of Billy Budd, Philip Langridge is agreat Captain Vere, showing how tortured he is by what he did, or didn'tdo, and Richard Van Allan as John Claggart is evil personified.Thediction is good - I was able to follow this without the libretto, and whatI missed the first time through, could pick up in subsequent viewings. Well worth the money. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Rossini's treatment of the Cinderella story discards the magic elementsand makes it a morality tale--no fairy godmother, pumpkin coach, or glassslipper, but a sweet, intelligent heroine, abused by a dysfunctional family, whotriumphs over adversity. She meets and marries her Prince Charming as a justreward for her simple, spontaneous virtue, a plot that could easily become banalbut doesn't. This simple tale becomes a great evening's entertainment thanks toRossini's music--glittering, bubbly, rich in wit and pathos--and the hilariousimagination of librettist Jacopo Ferretti.Read more

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Reviews (5)

Recommended
This is an excellent Cenerentola, not perfect but excellent none the less. Let me go through the singers one by one.
Good Production But Poor Video Quality
This is a good production of the opera but unfortunately the video quality is poor. Many of the R.M. Arts releases seem to have poor video quality and if I had know it was an R.M. Arts production I wouldn't have bought it.

No Fairy Godmother Here
This is the story of Cinderella with a different twist. A Step father vs a Stepmother. Don Magnifico played by Walter Berry and his two warring daughters/siblings Clorinda And Tisbe. A pair of bracelets rather than glass slippers. Finally, the Prince's tutor, Alidoro, posing as a beggar to whom Cinderella gives bread. Alidoro will become Ciderella's angel and advocate. No Fairy Godmother here. Dandini, the counterfeit Prince played by Gino Quilico is a pure delight, pulling of the deception in brilliant fashion. Francisco Araiza as the real Prince whom I have seen in other Opera's is of magnificent tenor voice along with superb acting. Ann Murray as Cinderella is incomparable, wow what a performance, convincing, heartfelt and purley delightfull in every respect. The themes of forgiveness and respect hit home. Certainly a Five Star rating at Amazon.Com, but a 10 out 10 for performance, visual scenery and the Vienna Philharmonic. Some of my favorite scenes were the Wine Cellar, the Coach ride and Dandi's interplay with Don Magnifico's daughters and much much more. Totally delightfull. A must for any collection. Sound Quality A1 Picture Qaulity- Clean and crisp ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Janacek's masterpiece Read more

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Reviews (6)

A Great Opera -- a slightly disappointing Release
Jenufa -- Leos Janacek's "breakout" composition -- had a long and in some ways turgid performance history.The present recording, using the "original" score (before major revisions by the composer in the 1920s) is welcome if only for the ability to compare Janacek's original intention with his later reflections and alterations.Having said that, the audio quality lacks immediacy and presence and the otherwise excellent production values are ultimately hindered by the lackluster sound.Indeed, after viewing this DVD I immediately took out the MacKerras Jenufa recording (Elizabeth Soderstrum) to remind me just exactly how this magnificent opera is supposed to "sound."It's a pity that there is not another DVD available; this opera deserves the widest possible audience.

I'm almost speechless
I bought this DVD at the recommendation of an opera-loving friend.I knew nothing about it, so I found a plot synopsis on the web (there are no notes at all, just a list of sections).Well, wow.This is a powerful work...the music reminds me of Wagner, except a human Wagner, with real people and emotions, instead of gods.In fact, and this will enrage Wagnerians I suppose, I think there is more honest emotion in Act II of this opera than in the entire ring cycle.The acting is believable and the singing is fine.Anja Silja as the mother is riveting.The only reason I don't give it five stars is that I think the sound recording is a bit tinny, and it's not a live performance.At the end I wish there'd been an audience cheering, because I wanted to cheer too.

a great and moving performance
The sets are sharp, spare and effective, costumes traditional.The singers are all committed and as good as one could get.The over-all effect is tear-jerking.A must-have for any Janacek fan and a perfect introduction to his amazing operas. It helps to have the booklet from Mackerras CD recording with its very thorough notes. ... Read more

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

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Reviews (7)

Nice Production, Great Cast
Note: I saw this on TV, and missed Act I.My comments apply to acts II-IV.If you are familiar with the Met's production by Zefferelli, the staging here is similar, but in some ways superior: act II is less crowded, and the horseplay in the beginning of act IV comes off as more spontaneous. It's a good naturalistic production.
Video doesn't play
I received the video and it doesn't even play. Now I have to go to the trouble of returning a useless item--and still pay the original shipping costs. I'll certainly never purchase a video this way again.

Pavarotti is a fluke
I love Pavarotti very much. I am very happy about his performance of Che Geldida Mania. Musseta is wonderful. Mimi's cute. Read more

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

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Editorial Review

This 1966 film version of Read more

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Reviews (3)

Excellent Video Production of a Stage Version
This is an excellent video of a very straightforward, conservative, and traditional staging of the Mikado. It does not have any of the lack of confidence that some video productions seem to have in trying to make a stage production seem to be anything more than it ought to be; it is as if the camera is very unobtrusively moving around in a traditional stage production.This is a good way of doing things; there are no "stupid camera tricks" that interfere with the performance. "The Mikado" - 1966, D'Oyly Carte
I have a hard time saying anything negative about the 1966 version I just saw...yes, it does cut the "Knightsbridge" reference (otherwise known as the "wherever" line...) or its equivalent, and the whole "song of the sea" section of "Wandering Minstrel" seems to have bit the dust, as well.But I think that was it, as far as omissions...oh, yes, they left out the second verse of the madrigal. Pure Gilbert & Sullivan ..... pure delight!
I have been a lover of the light operas of Gilbert & Sullivan for many years, and this filmed stage production of the best of those light operas is as close as one could come to being there and yet not be there! This production stars the D'Oyly Carte Light Opera Company towards the end of their greatest years but still starring some of the greatest members of that Company's history! John Reed as "Ko-Ko", the hapless Lord High Executioner, is a joy to both see and listen to; Kenneth Sandford as the Lord High Everything Else "Pooh-Bah" is perfect in the role that might have been made for him; Donald Adams is the ultimate Mikado, especially in his signature song "My Object All Sublime"; Philip Potter is a marvelous "Nanki-Poo"; and Valerie Masterson is as charming, demure and beautiful a "Yum-Yum" as one could wish, especially in performing "The Sun Whose Rays", one of the most beautiful songs Gilbert & Sllivan ever wrote. The sets and costumes for this filmed stage production are as historically accurate as a purist could ever wish for, and not a single line of dialogue is changed, altered, or updated (another joy for G&S purists).Read more

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Reviews (5)

5 for cast & conducting....0 for lighting
This is a dream cast (as the other reviewers have indicated).All the voices are up to their roles, no mean feat...and this is a delicious opera.Katia Ricciarelli is an ideal Amelia with her warm creamy tones and excellent acting ability.Domingo revels in the role of Gustavo in his juicy young voice (he's about 34 here.
Good performance
Enjoyed this very much.Every one did a wonderful job, I thought.Nothing spectacular or outstanding, but really engrossing and pleasing.(It took the king about as long to die as Desdemona and Gilda!They all kept coming back to life!)I knew before but it didn't take until this show that there really are other sopranos besides Sutherland, Callas and Sills, good ones.Ricciarelli was very good, liquid and warm.Oscar I thought almost stole the show.She was wonderful, a tricky, intricate, demanding part sung with ease, reminded me of Ratti, whose performance I've cherished for years.Domingo (particularly during his curtain calls) seemed just like a very nice guy with a huge talent.Good acting all around.Was struck by everyone's calm self-assured competence during curtain calls.Old pros.Was finally struck by how much more is gotten (at least by me) from watching an opera than just listening to it on CDs.Sets were beautiful, texture of the film or color seemed a little off, but minor, subtitles left lots to the imagination.Subtitle:"I want to see my son."Amelia sings for 10 minutes, no subtitles."You may see your son."Then her husband sings for 10 minutes, no subtitles.The subtitles were just enough to keep you conscious of what the story was, little better than a synopsis, made me a little angry eventually.If you like this music, I recommend this DVD, even, subdued, quality, good performances.

The cast in this DVD was ...
After spend some time in researches , I founded a complete list of the cast on this '75 ROH production: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. Classical    2. Classical Vocals    3. Music Videos - Classical    4. Opera/Operetta   

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