Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Blu Ray Opera Reviews

Can you list the performers of each disc when you review them please? It would make life a lot easier.

And I agree, the Valencia Ring is pretty special.

OK, will do.

I have not seen the last two of the 4 Ring ones yet - our friends come over in around 10 days and we will see Siegfried together. However other reports suggest that Die Walkure is the best of the 4 so we shall not have expectations raised too high beforehand. We are going away for a month so Gotterdammerung will have to wait until July!!!

At the moment I'm thoroughly enjoying the BD of Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutte". Delightful acting and singing and Bluray is certainly adding to the experience. I'm in increasing awe of the genius of Mozart. Watch this space for a glowing review in a few days time, and yes, I'll include casting details!!

John

COMPOSER: MOZART Disc Title: Cosi fan tutte

Disc catalog: Opus Arte OA BD 7035D Recording Date: 2006 Program Length: 180 mins + approx 28 mins extrasGlyndebourne production

Cast:Ferrando: Topi Lehtipuu; Guglielmo: Luca Pisaroni; Don Alfonso: Nicolas Rivenq; Fiordiligi: Miah Persson; Dorabella: Anke Vondung; Despina: Ainhoa Garmendia
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; The Glyndebourne Chorus; Conductor: Ivan Fischer; Stage Director: Nicholas Hytner

Video rating: 5/5 Audio type: Dolby True HD 2.0, Dolby True HD 5.1 Audio rating: 5/5

Overall rating: 5/5

Summary comment: Superb traditional production of this Mozart masterpiece

Detailed Comment: Another outstanding Bluray Mozart opera production. Thankfully traditional costuming and sets, but acted and sung with skill and relish to the delight of the audience and this viewer. The three leading ladies are particularly good and their comic acting is very amusing. One wonders just what the young Mozart observed about the behaviour of the aristocracy in his travels because his operas reflect obvious disrespect for them, something which caused considerable uproar when they were first produced. In this opera he credits the maid, Despina, deliciously sung and acted by Ainhoa Garmendia, with more intelligence and astuteness to see through the disguises of the men, than the ladies who are supposed to love them!! As with most operas the storyline is thin and unbelievable but the artists in this Glynedebourne effort imbue the production with such delightful singing and acting one soon forgets the total improbability of what is happening and become completely immersed in it. This is the BD Mozart opera I have enjoyed the most out of a generally good lot.

The audio and video are up to the usual high Bluray standards. We are fortunate to have been given so many top notch Mozart operas in this format. Unreservedly recommended.

COMPOSER: PUCCINI Disc Title: Turandot

Disc catalog: Unitel 700404 Recording Date: 2008 Program Length: 120 mins + 36 mins extras Recorded live at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, Valencia

Cast: Turandot - Maria Guleghina; Altoum - Javier Agulló; Timur - Alexander Tsymbalyuk; Calaf - Marco Berti; Liù - Alexia Voulgaridou; Ping - Fabio Previati; Pang - Vincenç Esteve; Pong - Roger Padull�s; Un mandarino - Ventseslav Anastasov ;Valencia Regional Government Choir (Cor de la Gegneralitat Valenciana); Valencian Community Orchestra (Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana); Zubin Mehta, conductor; Chen Kai-ge, stage director

Video rating: 5/5 Audio type: PCM stereo, DTS-HD Master 5.1 Audio rating: 5/5 Overall rating: 3.5/5

Summary comment: Excellent colourful costumes, stage setting & lighting but not matched by the singing from the main soloists

Detailed Comment: A top notch opera production demands a lot, particularly when most of the storylines are so unbelievable. BUT if the production, acting and singing all come together then opera can be a truly sublime art form. Sadly this does not happen with the disc under review. The orchesral playing and the recording of it is first class but I was unmoved by Maria Guleghina in the role of Turandot and found it difficult to accept that men would risk their lives for her. Her singing was certainly powerful, but that did not make it appealing to me. Marco Berti the role of Calaf seemed OK until he attempted Nessun Dorma in Act 3 and he lost me after that poor effort. The chorus was great and the minor roles came through ok but the overall effect was one of disappointment for me. This is a pity because otherwise this production has a lot going for it. But if the main roles are unimpressively sung then nothing much can save any opera, particularly when the tale presented is as fanciful as that in Turandot.
Not recommended.

I certainly agree with that if her physical beauty was the only issue, as is implied in the opera. OTOH, one can imagine men taking that risk for the political and financial concomitants of such a marriage.

COMPOSER: Wagner Disc Title: Siegfried

Disc catalog: UNITEL CLASSICS 701004 Recording Date: 2008/9 Program Length: 256 + 27 mins extras mins A live Valenciana Opera house Production

Cast: Siegfried - Lance Ryan; Mime - Gerhard Siegel; Der Wanderer - Juha Uusitalo; Alberich - Franz-Joseph Kapellmann; Fafner - Stephen Milling; Erda - Catherine Wyn-Rogers ; Brünnhilde - Jennifer Wilson ; Waldvogel - Marina Zyatkova ;Valencian Community Orchestra (Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana) Zubin Mehta, conductor ; La Fura del Baus, staging; Carlus Padrissa, stage director

Video rating: 5/5 Audio type: DTS HD MA 7.1, PCM Stereo No mention of bitrates Audio rating: 5/5 Overall rating: 4.5/5

Summary comment: Another dazzling production - but overdone in Act 2

Detailed Comment: Friends came over last night and we tackled this 3rd Ring 4 3/4 hour Wagner opera. Maybe I was less receptive and too tired, but I found it VERY long and it did not engross me as much as the previous two in the cycle. We all felt the background efforts in Act 2 were overdone and distracting and certainly did not project an image of a tranquil forest scene.

But we remained impressed by the brilliant singing of the part of Wotan by Juha Uusitalo and the good effort of Lance Ryan in the very long and exhausting role of Siegfried. Then there is Jennifer Wilson who thankfully took off the ugly enormous breast plate early in the piece. Her singing is rivetting and very powerful although it was hard to see how she appeared so sexy to Siegfried but I'm getting picky. The singing and acting is what opera is about and she performed the Wagnerian role brilliantly.

Overall no, it was not as enjoyable for me as the first two in the cycle and there remain puzzlement at the symbolism of shadowy bods sweeping the floor and writhing on the floor with some of the background confusing and distracting. So do I recommend it? I guess the answer is yes if you want a consistent set of all the ring operas, but no if you expect "Siegfied" to be as good as the first two.

Viewing the final Ring opera will have to wait quite a few weeks until we can get together again. But at least we are at home in comfortable lounge chairs where we can enjoy the superb audio & video of Bluray at our leisure. No doubt attending live performances of The Ring would be unique experiences but I'll opt for home viewing when dealing with operas as long as these.

John

You should try the new Admeto from Göttingen.

Is it Eurotrashed like the Opus Arte effort?

First up a confession - I absolutely love this opera and this disc brings the number to 11. They are:
* Zefferelli/Stratos/Domingo on laserdisc
* Solti/Gheorghiu on laserdisc
* Piave/Fabbricini (superb singing) on laserdis
* Callas on CD
* Carden & the Australian Opera Co on DVD
* Bonadelli at Rotterdam on DVD
* Mehta/Gruberova "La Traviata in Paris" on DVD
* Rizzi/Bruberova Venice production on DVD
* Rizzi/Netrebco on DVD (some dislike this and damn it as "Eurotrash" but OK by me)
* Fleming on Bluray
* Now the disc reviewed below on Bluray

COMPOSER: Verdi Disc Title: La Traviata

Disc catalog: ArtHaus 101 342 Recording Date: 2007 Program Length 132 mins A live Teatro alla Scala di Milano Production

Video rating: 5/5 Audio type: PCM Stereo DTS HD Master Audio Surround 7.1 Audio rating: 5/5 Overall rating: 5/5

Summary comment: Another excellent Bluray opera production of this opera to join others in this collection!

Detailed Comment: “La Traviata” is my favourite opera so be aware of some prejudice. It rarely fails to tear at the heartstrings and gives the lead soprano great opportunities for vocal and emotional display. And the lovely Angela Gheorghiu achieves all this in spades backed up very competently by Ramon Vargas and Robert Frontali. These two male singers perform very well although I would not claim they are the best available but I give full marks to Angela Gheorghiu to be at least as good as Fleming, Gruberova, Netrebo and others. I also have her performing this opera on laserdisc with Domingo where Solti was the conductor but this latest effort eclipses her earlier one.

As we have come to expect from Bluray the audio and video are top notch so the glorious orchestra music under Maazel's baton comes through beautifully. It seems this disc is being phased out so is now available at very reasonable prices so if you are tempted, hesitate no longer. Thoroughly recommended.

John

What with our absence for almost a month up exploring the Kimberley in North Australia and our friends being away it has taken 2 months to get to this. So here is the appraisal:

COMPOSER: Wagner

Disc Title: Gotterdammerung

Disc catalog: Unitel Classica 701204 Recording Date: 2008/5 Program Length: 280 + 27 mins extras mins (not looked at yet) A live Valenciana Opera house Production

Cast: Siegfried: Lance Ryan, Gunther: Ralf Lukas, Alberich: Franz-Josef Kapellmann, Hagen: Matti Salminen, Brünnhilde: Jennifer Wilson, Gutrune: Elisabete Matos, Waltraute: Catherine Wyn-Rogers, 1. Norn: Daniela Denschlag, 2. Norn: Pilar Vásquez, 3. Norn: Eugenia Bethencourt, Woglinde: Silvia Vásquez, Wellgunde: Ann-Katrin Naidu, Floßhilde: Marina Prudenskaya, Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, Zubin Mehta, conductor.

Video rating: 5/5 Audio type: DTS HD MA 7.1, PCM Stereo No mention of bitrates Audio rating: 5/5

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Summary comment: Another dazzling production - but VERY long

Detailed Comment: Some have criticised Mehta for lack of energy in conducting Wagner. That might apply to Siegfried but not to this performance. Ralf Ryan in the role of Gunther is particularly impressive and while Jennifer Wilson might not pass on the svelte stakes wearing her enormous breast plate, her singing is superb and soon counteracts any negative visual image. And the dramatic backstage projections continue here, some of which, with the unique staging remained a mystery to us, but come together, particularly in the final scenes, to bring the Ring Cycle to a tremendous climax. And mention must again be made of the three Rhine maidens who so skillfully dive in and out of water to sing in unism. It makes Olymic synchronised swimming pale in comparison!
But yes, it IS a very long opera with quite a few flat dramatic spots and did leave us with the feeling that it would be awhile before we want to revisit the Ring again. However the Ring a unique composition with its clever leitmotifs woven so brilliantly throughout the 4 operas and this makes the complex plot of Gotterdammerung easier to follow, although some of it still remains a mystery.
So fully appreciating is not always an easy proposition and there is a vast library of books giving interpretations to the Ring. But at a basic music level it can be a very rewarding experience and the Valencia production has all the hallmarks of becoming a classic.
Thoroughly recommended.

COMPOSER:Verdi

Disc Title: La Forza del Destino

Disc catalog: TDK DVDB-OPORZA Recording Date: 2007 Program Length: 189 mins A live TeatroComunale, Florence production

Cast: Violeta Urmana, Carlo Guelfi, Marcello Giordani, Julia Gertseva, Roberto Scandiuzzi & Bruno De Simone
Chorus and Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Zubin Mehta (conductor) & Nicolas Joël (director)

Video rating: 5/5 Audio type: DTS HD MA 7.1, PCM Stereo No mention of bitrates Audio rating: 5/5

Overall rating: 4/5

Summary comment: A traditional production which is very very good without being rivetting.

Detailed Comment: Verdi appeared to love tragedies with the hero or heroine (in this case both) dying in the last scene. All of the family of the Marquis of Calatrava we see in this opera expire in the unlikely tale, but then how many operas are realistic? - it is pointless to criticise the storyline. And there is some very good singing in this production accompanied very impressively with an orchestra conducted by Mehta. Lithuanian soprano Violeta Urmana sings the role of Leonora very capably and is backed up with very good performances by Marcello Giordani singing the role of Alvaro, a man pursued by the vengeful Don Carlo sung by Carlo Guelfi. Although this production did not make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck I was impressed with it overall, particularly the male chorus work.
Audio and video are up to the best BD standards which means they are excellent.
So, recommended to add to your collection.

John

COMPOSER: Poulenc

Disc Title: Dialogues des Carmelites

Disc catalog: ArtHaus 101 494 Recording Date: 2008 Program Length: 166 mins A live Staatsoper Hamburg production

Cast: Alexia Voulgaridou (Blanche de la Force), Wolfgang Schöne (Marquis de la Force), Nikolai Schukoff (Le chevalier de la Force), Kathryn Harries (Madame de Croissy), Anne Schwanewilms (Madame Lidoine), Gabriele Schnaut (M�re Marie de l‘Incarnation) Staatsoper Hamburg, Simone Young (conductor) & Nikolaus Lehnhoff (director) Set Design by Raimund Bauer.

Video rating: 4/5 Something wrong with one of the cameras?? Audio type: DTS HD MA 7.1, PCM Stereo No mention of bitrates Audio rating: 5/5

Overall rating: 5/5

Summary comment: A stunning production

Detailed Comment: It is unusual for an opera to be so true to life as this one is - based on actual tragic events. The singing is very dramatic in keeping with Poulenc's glorious music and the staging is suitably simple, stark and effectively lit. However the video was not up to the usual unblemished BD quality on the system used here (a Sony player into a recent model Sony 46" TV). The resolution etc was fine but every so often one could see a mosquito net effect on the faces. As this was so inconsistent and switched on and off inbetween shots I can only guess it was a fault in one camera and occurs in the master copy. A pity the production is blemished in this way.
Although this was composed in the 20th century it is not discordent and has some beautiful moments which can make the hair stand up on the back of the neck. But it might not be everyone's cup of tea, particularly if you are not a fan of the soprano voice because there is very little male singing in this work.
So, highly recommended, with a note of caution. The work itself, the audio quality and the artistry involved are first rate, but the faulty video can be distracting.