Ok, already! I guess it's too late for the elves to put another one on Santa's sleigh, so will drop in on Amazon directly.Originally Posted by Clayton
In other Rameau news, I had a fundraising request from our local Opera Lafayette, which recently staged Les Fetes de l'Hymen et de L'Amour ou Les Dieux d'Egypte at the Kennedy Center, urging contributions toward issuing their first DVD recording ever - of Les Fetes, which they filmed during the performances in October. They had an initial 3 for 1 challenge grant just for the project, so it looks like it should be coming soon. Unfortunately, a contribution doesn't seem to earn a free DVD!
whaaaa?
at least a discount or signed copy please!
Well, it was the same with Opera Rara and their Les Martyrs (Donizetti). Asking for contributions but no free CD! I guess I've contributed more than my share with my [lost count] purchases of Opera Rara and always promoting their wonderful quality productions.
I will be ordering the Les Martyrs CD but will wait and see the Opera Lafayette DVD reviews, hoping it manages to go ahead.
Last night watched this lovely DVD.
I think it is a good production, Fleming is in her element and Mr. Fabiano holds up very well.
Nice setting and costumes , enjoying it very much.
Donizetti: Lucrezia Borgia (Featuring the San Francisco Opera)
Renée Fleming (Actor), Michael Fabiano (Actor)
EuroArts San Francisco Opera - 2059648
We have been on an early Verdi kick for the last few days. The Tutto Verdi series has some vocally excellent and dramtically uneven discs, from which I suggest Il Corsaro for intensely melodic singing and not bad staging. I Masnadieri features some wonderful singing, again with the forward driving intensity of early Verdi, but with appalling staging. I Due Foscari has an excellent cast and decent staging.
My lifelong quest for near live opera experiences at home seems to have been achieved with the Blu ray technology. I cannot get the same results with the best of my CDs as I do with the HD MA sound. And of course opera being theatre ...
I should also mention that the ... emm ... attire (or lack thereof) on the part of the female performers is an ... incentive, as well.
What is the setting of this production?
Renaissance Italy with a San Francisco flair. I agree that it is a very good production,
It is simple on stage , not to much fuss .
The costumes however are stunning sometimes but never over the top.
And I am a purist as it comes to opera Mrs Fleming in it or not
We've been on an early Verdi binge, having watched I Lombardi, Il Corsaro, I Masnadieri, all from the Tutto Verdi series. I find a lot of energy in these works and am delighted to have them in Blu ray.
They're great aren't they. His 'galley' years.
"Every theatre is an insane asylum, but an opera theatre is the ward for the incurables."
FRANZ SCHALK, attributed, Losing the Plot in Opera: Myths and Secrets of the World's Great Operas
Yes, ma'am, they are. I remember when the Phillips recordings first issued and my great surprise at (1) the quality of the music, and, (2) that anyone could find them less than fantastic, at least musically. Now that I can see them, I can enjoy them as they were meant to be enjoyed, as theatre
Last night we really enjoyed La Cenerentola in Blu ray format with DiDonato and Florez, from Le Grand Teatre del Licieu. The staging is a bit Walt Disney-esque, with colorfully exaggerated costumes and a clever use of dancers in rat costumes. Most enjoyable, with great conducting by Patrick Summers. HD MA sound has to be experienced to be believed!
In the pile to watch is the Met's version with Brownlee and Garanca in Blu ray.
Re-reading your posts on the Tutto Verdi productions has made me add it to my wish list. I typically don't do DVDs, but I would kill to see these operas done on stage, but don't see much hope of that happening anytime soon.
I heard both I Masnadieri and Il Corsaro done in concert last year, and they were wonderful. Just whets the appetite for the real thing.
Most of the Tutto Verdi series are quite good, vocally and dramatically. In Blu ray format, the sense of "being there" is quite real. What I like about them is that the passion of the Italian audiences seems to generate the same in the performers. Verdi's music is intensely melodic and he uses the beat (metre) to drive the melodies forward.
These ain't wimpy performances.
You will enjoy singers who are unfamiliar to most of us.
And Leo Nucci: some reviewers opined that the series should be titled "Tutto Nucci"! He does splendid work!
Tutto Verdi is quite good for the less well known Verdis like I due Foscari, Giovanna D'arco etc- but I would say they are never going to rival the great Don Carlos/Otello/Traviata performances.
Natalie
Very true! And add Aida and Trovatore: the tenor is ghastly in the former, and the soprano and staging in the latter are appalling. The Traviata, while not of the best, is still quite good.
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