FitnessProsBooks.com - Mozart - Don Giovanni / Allen, Gruberova, Murray, Araiza, Desderi, Mentzer, Muti, La Scala Opera

	List Price: $19.99 Our Price: $12.69 Your Save: $ 7.30 ( 37% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Manufacturer: BBC / Opus Arte Starring: Thomas Allen, Edita Gruberova, Francisco Araiza
Average Customer Rating:
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD EAN: 0809478030010 Format: Classical Label: BBC / Opus Arte Manufacturer: BBC / Opus Arte Number Of Discs: 1 Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: BBC / Opus Arte Region Code: 1 Release Date: 2004-06-15 Running Time: 179 Studio: BBC / Opus Arte Theatrical Release Date: 1987
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: A traditional production with much to recommend it Comment: Overall, I like this "Don Giovanni," although because a review of the opera generally begins with the title character, I must start with the production's weakest link. Thomas Allen is not the seasoned Don one can see four years later in the 1991 DVD from the Cologne Opera. By 1991, he has perfected his suave seducer approach to the role. I know that Don Giovanni is considered his signature role, but in this La Scala production, he's flat (not in the musical sense). He just has no flare. Since his voice also sounds strained at times, perhaps he was having an off night. Edita Gruberova's voice is well-suited for Mozart (her singing as Fiordiligi in the Ponnelle film of "Cosi Fan Tutte" is stunning). As Donna Anna, she doesn't disappoint. "Non mi dir" is a highlight of the second act (the audience thought so too). She puts her heart and soul into the aria, while at the same time maintaining impeccable voice control. As Donna Elvira, Ann Murray is in magnificent voice ("Mi tradi" is particularly notable). But, as others have also said, her portrayal of this key character is disappointing. As I've mentioned in other reviews of "Don Giovanni," to me, Donna Elvira is the heart of the opera. Many play her as a madwoman, making her a buffa-type character who provides some comic relief. But that interpretation falls short because it's Elvira who steps in and, with the wild and short aria, "Ah, fuggi il traditor," stops Giovanni from seducing Zerlina. Then again, it is Elvira who, in the great quartet with Don Giovanni, Donna Anna, and Don Ottavio, so rattles Giovanni that he gets too close to Donna Anna, allowing her to see that it's he who seduced her in the dark. And it's Donna Elvira who, right until the end, is ready to forgive this doomed man. However one thinks Elvira should be interpreted, Ann Murray, beautifully though she sings, doesn't develop a character. Francisco Araiza's gentle tenor voice is a great match for Mozart's music. He plays Don Ottavio as sad and a bit bewildered by the events happening around him. Making exquisite use of pianissimo, his "Dalla sua pace" is one of the most moving renditions I've heard (helped by Muti's stirring use of strings at the end). Susanne Mentzer (Zerlina) has a stunning voice. I'm surprised I haven't heard more of her. Natale de Carolis makes the most of the rather thankless role of Masetto, singing and acting with great energy. As Leporello, Claudio Desderi is excellent. His full-bodied baritone voice shines and he adds wonderful comic touches as the sidekick who both deplores and envies his master. I like Muti's varied conducting, sometimes brisk and energetic, other times (as in "Dalla sua pace") romantic in feel. The ensemble pieces are a highlight of the production due in large part to Muti's leadership on the podium. Although the DVD's sound quality is excellent (thank goodness), the picture quality is below par and many scenes are too dark (turning up the brightness on your TV helps). The traditional staging and costumes are refreshing in this era of so many modernized productions. Despite its shortcomings, there is much to admire in this production. Contrary to some, I even enjoy seeing Muti's face superimposed over some of the pieces (he does the same in La Scala's 1989 "Cosi Fan Tutte"). After all, it's a better view of the conductor than is had by those in the opera house! Customer Rating: Summary: Architectural splendour but what else? Comment: With copious amounts of material swirling around in this over busy production, it is hard at times to concentrate on the performances. With cloaks flourished and hats put on and taken off ad-nauseum the two main performers Allen and Desdiri occasionally suffer from shortage of breath and at times you feel like screaming "please just stand still". Thomas Allen is a singer I greatly admire - however on this night he just doesn't seem vocally up to the challenge, his aria `Fin ch'han dal vino' Is taken so fast by Muti that he is breathless and seems unable to cope, by the end of the opera he is evidently flagging. I don't want to be too unkind as all singers have off nights and the audience at La Scala obviously loved him and who am I to argue with them. A quick mention for Francisco Ariza - a wonderful singer whose voice here sounds tired but still melodious with hints of the beauty of his vocal youth. Of the women Edita Gruberova, as you would expect, gives the overall polished performance, her pure voice ringing out like a bell with never a hint of a screech. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Ann Murray whose top notes are squally and jarr the ear, however her lower register is still lovely and she is a very good actress, able to communicate her anguish, her aria `Mi tradi quell'alma ingrata `is very touching. The set itself is of highly polished architectural splendour and so in keeping with the period of the opera as indeed are the costumes, not exaggerated or over sumptuous and all the better for that. This is a fairly enjoyable evenings viewing but I was left feeling slightly cheated and wanting to strangle the stage director. Customer Rating: Summary: As usual, I agree with Scott Morrison Comment: After reading his,I smiled. We must stop meeting this way. However, my opinion of Gruberova is less kind than his, i.e., she has no business singing a spinto bordering on dramatic role. Even in the Good Old Days, her Konstanze wasn't high on my list. (The first time I heard Martern aller Arten it was sung by Helen Traubel, just for instance). As for Ann Murray's Elvira, yes, not gutsy enough. I'm that crazy about Bartoli's take on the lady, although as I've mentioned elsewhere, she brings the same characterization to Fiodiligi who, it seems to me, cannot be nearly so enraged as Elvira, after all. Sir Thomas is marvelous and Claudio Desderi is more than up to the Leporello. And I, too, very much like de Carolis and Mentzer is the off-again/on-again Masetto and Zerlina. There are a number of really fine recordings of Giovanni, as you all know. I'd avoid the one with Terfel (whom I ADORE in some roles) and Kringelborn as Elvira - he's lacking in the suave department and she screaches. Customer Rating: Summary: Great!!! Comment: This production of Mozart's Don Giovanni is great. Riccardo Muti is one of my favorite conductors and (being the La Scala orchestra) he has a great orchestra under him. The singers themselves are excellent. Thomas Allen's Giovanni is one of the best in the world (it's his signature role.) I am really looking forward to see him in the Chicago Lyric Opera's Cosi fan Tutte as Don Alfonso. Sergej Koptchak is among the best of the Commendatore's. Edita Gruberova is one of the best Anna's I have ever seen. Her Non mi dir shook La Scala that night. Francisco Arazia's Ottavio is THE best I have ever seen. Ann Murray's Elvira is a little wobbly but she pulls off the role of the jilted lover very well. Claudio Desderi's Leoporello is also the best I have ever seen. Natale de Carolis and Susanne Mentzer are wonderful as Masetto and Zerlina. The stage/production is also wonderful and seemed very well-rehearsed and acted. My Verdict: Buy it without hesitation (for 20$ how can you go wrong?) Customer Rating: Summary: Bad-Bad-Bad Comment: Regrettably, I have to agree with Sepand Ghanouni (December 29,2005). I found this production profoundly disappointing. Perhaps it's only a question of poor video equipment or lighting or God-knows-what, but almost every scene comes off as dark, gloomy, and indistinct - and the acting is...well, how can I put it? Was the entire cast hungover, or depressed, or what? The visual aspects of the opera (lighting, costumes, acting) turned me off so thoroughly that I could hardly focus at all on the music and singing. Mozart should sue. More Reviews
Editorial Reviews: This 1987 performance of Don Giovanni is director Giorgio Strehler's interpretation of this opera, which presents the characters from a psychological standpoint, has been lauded as one of the most important Mozart productions yet. The British baritone Thomas Allen stars as the famous rapscallion. Picture Format: 4:3 Sound Format: Dolby Stereo Subtitles: GB Sung in Italian