World Famous Comics: Berlioz - Les Troyens / Levine, Troyanos, Norman, Domingo, Metropolitan Opera
Berlioz - Les Troyens / Levine, Troyanos, Norman, Domingo, Metropolitan Opera
Starring: Tatiana Troyanos, Jessye Norman, Plácido Domingo, Allan Monk, Paul Plishka Directed By: Brian Large Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Classical, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC Label: Geneon [Pioneer] Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: March 26, 2002 Running Time: 253 minutes Theatrical Release Date: March 28, 1984
Rare treat for opera lovers The vocal performances are excellent. James Levine and the Met may be uniquely qualified in the U.S. to produce and conduct this seldom performed epic Opera on full scale. Full orchestra and offstage ensembles are perfectly balanced in Berliotz's grandest work. Staging this epic production always requires compromise. This is no exception in that department, nevertheless a pleasing production considering practical limitations.
Beautiful traditional staging of this masterpiece The Met performance of twenty or more years ago is still the one to see. The cast is flawless. Jessie Norman as Cassandra gives the best performance of her illustrious career and the young Troyanos and Domingo are also superb. A huge cast with excellent ballets (there are several) does this remarkable work justice. I give it four instead of five stars because the sound is somewhat under-recorded. I had to really boost the volume. Nevertheless, this is THE Troyens on DVD!
Not Great Visually But Who Cares?? OK, so this is not the greatest video visually. The colors are blah, the focus leaves a lot to be desired occasionally, and the stage sets are far from exciting. But if the most important asset of opera is the singing anyway, this is the video of Les Troyens to have. Jessye Norman's voice is clear and powerful, and the role of Cassandra the prophetess gone beserk is a great one for her. Even though Domingo's role is a punishing one he does much more than survive it -- his singing is a triumph. Troyanos is wonderful as Dido. Also wonderful is Levine in his young prime conducting an orchestra that is as polished as wonderful as could possibly sound in this sprawling behemoth of a masterpiece. For those who love these singers and love great singing and opera in general, this is a video worth having!!
Use your imagination. I like this opera very much, but while I found it musically as good as the cast and conductor would lead one to expect, it is visually so disappointing that I gave my copy to the public library. If this performance is on CD, listen to that with your eyes closed and watch the performance you create in your own head. It can only be better.
Honey, Who Does Your Hair? First off, I have to admit that "Les Troyens" is just not a favorite opera of mine. Despite all the sturm und drang (French translation, please), I just don't find the piece involving. That said, it's obviously a significant work and worthy of every opera fan's attention. And this DVD, recorded at the Met in 1983, offers a starry cast, all of whom do themselves proud. Norman has to be one of the most intense and idiosyncratic sopranos of the past 30 years, and she's riveting here; the sound is glorious, the acting remarkable. Domingo is hardly less effective, with his bright, clarion sound superbly matched by the mellowness of Troyanos, herself a superb actress. So why only 2 stars? Because the production is a disaster. It's ill-conceived and lumbering, with sets that match the auditorium's garish gold theme to ill effect. (Can this look really have been considered stylish in the 70s?) The costumes in particular are a joke; literally, they're laugh inducing. The identical braids for the female chorus and the Chewbacca boots for the Trojan soldiers may have seemed chic on paper, but when seen on the frumpy, geriatric singers, they're nothing short of ridiculous. (It may sound as if I'm being unduly harsh, but they have to be seen to be believed.) At one point, poor Mr. Domingo must don an enormous helmet that all but swallows his head -- and you can palpably sense his embarassment and discomfort. Troyanos' gold lame outfits are equally absurd. One can only watch in amazement and think that for their fashion sense alone, the Trojans deserved to lose the war. All this tackiness undermines the entire enterprise, which is a shame, as the sounds that the singers and Levine's orchestra are producing are magnificent. If you're a die-hard fan or very, very curious, by all means buy this version of "Les Troyens." But prepare to watch it with your eyes closed.
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