DVD : Jules Massenet: Manon |
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Rating:  - * What a show...but very a little flavor of opera comique ... This production is a beautiful show to watch. The cast is exciting, but so little French. So, if you do not pay too much attention to the pronunciation, then you will enjoy the creamy and lyric voice of Ms Netrebko, who portrays a strong Manon, dedicated to pleasure (see L'hotel de Transylvanie act). Villazon is, as always, very (some would say too much) involved in his character, but his voice was, at that time (2006), still responding (though he is asking too much). However, Faisons un reve is sung with beautiful pianissimi. Barenboim is not to be mentionnned as the sound of the orchestra is international and not Massenet. Generally speaking, a overall good production, but French is not the best quality of Ms Netrebko. Rating:  - * An Excellent Manon ... For some time I have tried to resist the charms of Netrebko; I listened to her Gilda from the Met; well sung but something was lacking. When Virgin released the L'Elisire from Vienna with Villazon and Netrebko I got it principally for Villazon who didn't disappoint. The diva was charming but she faced stiff competition in this arena: Scotto, Gheorghiu, etc. Considering Nucci's age it was an amazing performance but at least it was in a repertoire that he should never have strayed from. But back to Manon. I had already purchased the Virgin DVD and loved it although there were deficiencies but this is not the place to discuss them. For conservative opera goers this Berlin production is probably not the version to buy. As everyone knows the action as has been moved up to 1950 or there abouts. For me this works even though Massenet clearly evokes a France of the 18th century in much of the music. And Anna? she is a charmer entering fully into the the directors concept. She pounts, she flirts, she charms, she lies and she loves all with passion and commitment. Oh yes, she sings well. Is it a French Manon? Well, hardly, but she does make the attempt--a language coach is credited. There is only one Frenchman in the cast, but a stylistic French Manon in the 21st century is unlikely. One wonders when was the last time a Massenet opera was performed in Berlin, and to have Barenboim at the helm. This is hardly his fach, if one can borrow a singer's term. It is amazing to see and hear this great conductor who has spent his life with Mozart, Beethoven and Wagner conducting what many consider a frivolous entertainment. The notes indicate that he took over some ten days before the performance was to debut; he learned the score in that time; surely a rest from the rigors of his usual repertoire and a bravo for not patronizing the music. For me it would be impossible to choose Berlin over Barcelon or vice versa; I am glad I have both. I prefer either one to the Fleming version even though it was produced at the Bastille. Renee is weak in the first two acts--Dessay it probably the only Manon who can claim to be 15 and not look like a liar. And even though I have not seen it, the Vienna production has no allure for me. I may be accused of being sexist here, but Gruberova has little on not sex appeal for me and the voice is insufficiently glamorous. Rating: - * Paris in Hollywood ... Here is the second major production of Jules Massenet's "Manon" to come out on DVD in 2008. Earlier, we had David McVicar's gritty, unsentimental production, set in the story's own period of the early 18th century, from Barcelona's Liceu Opera House. Now comes a much "prettier" production, updated to the 1950s in a glamorous Hollywood treatment by Vincent Patterson for Los Angeles Opera and the Berlin Staatsoper. These DVDs are as different as their two female stars -- Natalie Dessay and Anna Netrebko -- though interestingly they share the same male star, tenor Rolando Villazón. And if you love this opera, or French opera in general, you probably should get them both. Though I think that McVicar's version presents the story much more powerfully than does Patterson's somewhat superficial interpretation, this newest version is a pleasure to watch, full of gorgeous costumes and eye candy galore. Patterson makes Manon into a Hollywood-obsessed Material Girl, who lives her life as her own film, channeling by turns Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and in her death scene, Ingrid Bergman. The glamorous Anna Netrebko carries off all these transformations with exuberance and a spectacular star wardrobe. Yet, though most of the story seems operetta-light in this production, Netrebko does manage to induce tears in her final death scene, aided in no small measure by Villazón's heartfelt performance. And her rich-voiced singing is generally gorgeous, save for the occasional shrill top note or slightly messy coloratura run. While she is not the subtle actress Dessay is, she is fully convincing as a woman men would all but kill to possess. Villazón manages to create almost a different character in his portrayal of her lover Des Grieux in comparison to his performance with Dessay. He seems here to be much younger, more playful and more completely dominated by Manon. His singing is impassioned and exciting, but sometimes sounds under stress. Not so his singing of the famous aria "La Rêve," which floats with great sweetness and touching sincerity. The rest of the cast is uniformly strong, especially Alfredo Daza as a firm-voiced Lescaut, Manon's cousin, played as a much less sinister, more good-hearted character here than in McVicar's production. And bass Christof Fischesser is an outstanding Count Des Grieux with a sonorous voice and authorative acting presence -- far superior to Samuel Ramey in the Liceu DVD. Daniel Barenboim, though not the last word as a French stylist, directs the Staatskapelle Berlin ably. If you wonder what all the "Dream Couple" fuss is about or are already a Netrebko-Villazón fan, you owe it to yourself to get this DVD. The sizzling, sexy connection between this pair is truly something special in the world of opera. It's not hype, it's not marketing: this couple has chemistry and charisma squared if not cubed! The Saint Sulpice scene here is hair-raisingly intense as Manon stalks the would-be-priest Des Grieux, who is like a caged animal behind the sacristy gates. While I admire the Liceu production more, I can't resist this charmer. Rating: - * If Marilyn Monroe could only Sing! ... This Manon is terrific in every way. Nicely staged, with color and action, despite simple sets. Well sung all around. Netrebko steals the show with her incredibly glamorous beauty and superb singing. The days of the fat soprano are farther and farther behind us. Only when opera is a great show on top of the inspired music, superb singing, and exciting spectacle, will it fascinate the great potential audience out there. This DVD is a fine step in that direction. Rating:  - * Es maravillosa, pero hay que ver a Gruberova ... Netrebko y Villazon son maravillosos, pero la version de Gruberova-Araiza es tambien hermosa, no se la pierdan. |
Continuing a fortuitous tradition of capturing the Sondheim legacy on video recordings, this performance was filmed before a live audience in Los Angeles during the 1982 national tour. Almost 20 years later, Hearn returned to the role opposite Patti LuPone in an acclaimed concert production. But Sweeney Todd is an especially compelling experience in this 1982 version, complete with the clever staging tricks (e.g., the barber's chair) and as close to the original cast as we're likely to see. --David Horiuchi
