Donizetti - Lucia di Lammermoor / Oliviero De Frabritiis, Opera di Roma [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of Donizetti - Lucia di Lammermoor / Oliviero De Frabritiis, Opera di Roma [VHS]
Movie Review: Too old - Too late
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought this in the hope of a good video of my favourite Donizetti-opera. And Sutherland was famous for ANYTHING belcanto... But here she's too old and it was too late. She's transposing and slowing down the madscene... Something she has never done before... A gorgeous production with a strong cast except for Sutherland...Movie Review: A Powerful Performance - Now that's opera
Summary: 5 Stars
Opera is the most satisfying of all the arts. It brings the best of all worlds together- acting, drama, singing, orchestral music and even dance in the case of some operas, Gaetano Donizetti's operas were very popular and have become established bel canto traditions in many theateres all around the world. Bel canto operas flourished in the early 19th century, most significantly in Italy but they soon made their way to France and Germany and even Russia (Wagner himself was influenced by some bel canto opera techniques and even Tchaikovsky's highly romantic tragic opera "Eunege Onegin" shows bel canto influence. Donizetti was the most gifted of the bel canto composers, able to write arias and ensembles of powerful dramatic context as well as emotionally touching and beautiful to hear. For bel canto operas only the best singers must take part. Casting the perfect bel canto heroine is trying sometimes, since very few sopranos of the 20th century exercized a skilled combination of beautiful vocals and dramatic acting. Only Maria Callas and later Beverly Sills would be the best bel canto heroines.Joan Sutherland- This is Australian soprano, who was married to conductor Richard Bonynge, has been hailed for her beautiful voice. It is beautiful. It is smooth, gracefull, rich, full and very round and heavy. Her voice is always at home in bel canto operas. It is non wonder then that she is most recognized for her performances in Lucrezia Borgia, Lucia Di Lammermoor and in this DVD, the role of Anne Boylen. As the tragic queen, she manages to portray a vast range of emotions and visually the whole production is impressive. Joan Sutherland is older in this video, which was filmed in the 80's but her dramatic persona is quite convincing. Her facial contortions, her cries and her grace make her very believable as the historic Anne Boylen. This opera was Donizetti's first big hit, earning him prestige in the Italian theater of San Carlo. He would produce and deliver operas to a favorable public for years to come.
The story of Henry 8th's merciless and cruel treatment of Anne is performed well. Henry 8th is sung by a bass-baritone (the archetypical opera villain voice) and strides with regial tyranny as the real king would have done. He has no actual arias but his talents are showcased in various recitatives with Jane Seymour (a mezzo soprano with some dramatic textures) and in the ensembles. Jane Seymour in this opera is a performance delivered rather well, despite some strains now and then, especiallly in the duet with Anne. Highlights in this opera include the quintet and sextets of Act 1 and 2, the romantic duet between Percy and Anne and of courses Anne's final scenes- the Mad Scene and her execution. It was Anne's Mad Scene that preceeded and echoed the later and more famous Mad Scene of Lucia Di Lammermoor, Donizettis most popular masterpiece. Both Ann and Lucia hallucinate of marriage, speak of lost love and are completely overwhelmed by melancholia, arias and roulades accompanied by the sounds of flutes. Although Lucia's Mad Scene is better musicallly and dramaticallly, Annes Mad Scene is quite dramatic as well. Her most challenging aria comes in the end in "Coppia Iniquia" in which she awaits her execution and plunges into roulades and exclamations against the terrible crime of her death.
I personally prefer Beverly Sills in the role of Anne Boylen, but there exists only a recording of it on cd and in the box set of the Three Tudor Queens. Beverlys live performance of Anne Boylen was never filmed but it must have been a sensation and the best interpretation. Joan Sutherland is a good singer but she falls short on acting credibility.
Movie Review: Strong cast and authentic staging
Summary: 4 Stars
I think this a very authentic production of the opera, from staging to customes. A delight for opera purists.For the casting, Joan is still amazing at her age. It is true that she does not possess the stamina at the end of the opera (listen to her last note and compare with her Decca CD recording), but in average, this is still Joan's typical great performance. James Morris handles his role brilliantly, and acts as if he were a king ^_^. I think the tenor Michael Myers' timbre is a bit too dark for my taste, but his overall vocal and acting skills are still admirable nonetheless. Other smaller roles are mostly very capable, including Ben Heppner taking up Hervey.
A minor criticism is that, in the year 1984, they are still recoring in mono! I do not understand this, and this may scare away some audiophiles. By setting up my surround sound system, I manage to get a more spatial sound stage. And after about 3 minutes after the overture, I totally forget about this audio deficiency since it is really an enjoyable opera performance.
Movie Review: lovely Moffo memento
Summary: 4 Stars
As far as opera movie goes this one is fairly good. Granted
the acting is a bit static and the cinematography and staging
rather academic however the sets (real castle, real outdoor)
and costumes are beautiful and everyone looks right for her/
his part. Anna Moffo is definetely the star - she is ravishing
to look at and a pleasure to listen to - a warm, full lyric
soprano voice with an easy top and considerable agility. Lajos
Kozma is a dashing-looking Edgardo but is plagued by a rather
tight nasal sound however he opens up as the opera goes along
and offers an eloquent final scene. Giulio Fioravanti and Paolo
Washington are sturdy performers and have no problems meeting
the vocal demands of Enrico and Raimondo. The supporting cast
is adequate but no more. All in all an enjoyable movie and
lovely memento of Anna Moffo in one of her great roles.
Movie Review: Costumes are Wonderful!
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a very lonnnngggg opera and Joan should have passed on Anna as she didn't have the stamina nor the voice to pull it off. Having heard her in the earlier years, this is almost embarrassing to witness her decline vocally. I bought it based on the customer reviews of the supporting cast and production. Found the customer reviews very accurate in my opinion. I loved the costumes and the sets were just perfect as well. Joan's hubby did a commendable job in the pit with a responsive orchestra. The star turn was James Morris' Henry the VIII! Wow! Forst was fine and Heppner, though a tiny role, demonstrated that this was a voice with immense promise. Don't believe there is another video available to rival this one. The only other recommendation is Beverly Sills' CD for this opera. Somehow, I had a difficult time avoiding boredom with this performance except for Morris. Maybe repeated viewings will improve my opinion. Ok if you can forgive Joan for growing old, losing her support and along with it her middle and low voice. Her high notes pinched with a very wide vibrato. I just felt sorry for her - she was exhausted and it showed!