Thread: Puccini on DVD and Blu-ray

I've just seen this. You better keep those tissues within reach because if you have a heart it will no doubt be broken when the opera is finished. It's good - very good in my opinion. I'm not as much into opera movies as I am into live performances from the stage, but this one is magical. The setting is traditional but not run of the mill, Villazon and Netrebko are in fine voice (Villazon is outstanding in fact), Netrebko is drop dead gorgeous and the acting is superb. Also - it's often the case in opera movies that you can see that they are not really singing. Even if they get the lip synching right it's clear that they aren't singing for real because you can't see the effort it takes to sing like that. No such problems here. They have actually shot some of the scenes with Netrebko and Villazon singing live while filming took place. So it's all good really. I like it - no, let me rephrase that - I LOVE it anyway.

Originally Posted by Elgarian

This was the aspect that worried me most - I knew I wouldn't be able to believe in the performance if they didn't seem to be really singing, but it seems that my only reservation is answered. It goes on my list. Thanks Gaston.

I found this youtube where Villazon talks about singing live during filming. It's in German, but you will get the idea...

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PnjKzvxz3M[/YT]

Trailer...

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMAs5X7-FDs[/YT]

Watched the first half of this yesterday. My goodness, what an emotional experience this is - and the most weepy bits are still to come! Almost full marks, so far. In particular unreserved full marks for Villazon who is simply tremendous in this - truly outstanding. In fact, for me, he makes Netrebko seem a bit bland by comparison (though I'm not a particular fan of hers, anyway). Certainly it's Villazon's voice that is still echoing around my head this morning.

If I were to nitpick about the production (and it is nitpicking - I do it because I can't find adequate superlatives to go on talking about Villazon), I'd say that:

1. The synchronising between lip movements and voices isn't always entirely convincing.
2. The outdoor street scenes look very like a movie set (which they obviously are), as opposed to the interiors, which look much more natural. The result, although very beautiful, seems lacking in a certain unity.
3. Much of the falling snow looks computer-generated to me. Maybe it isn't (in which case I accept the egg on my face), but I find myself not really believing in those snowflakes as they drift around.
4. The widescreen format is fine for a movie in a cinema at full scale, but I've never felt comfortable with it on the small scale of a TV, and most particularly with this opera, on its intimate scale, it doesn't feel right - it induces a sort of claustrophobia, as if the ceiling is always too low, or something.

But I'm now feeling guilty talking about such minutiae, when the overall experience is so positive. This will get watched again and again. 95/100. Star rating (out of five): four and three quarters.

Originally Posted by Elgarian

Watched the first half of this yesterday. My goodness, what an emotional experience this is - and the most weepy bits are still to come! Almost full marks, so far. In particular unreserved full marks for Villazon who is simply tremendous in this - truly outstanding. In fact, for me, he makes Netrebko seem a bit bland by comparison (though I'm not a particular fan of hers, anyway). Certainly it's Villazon's voice that is still echoing around my head this morning.

If I were to nitpick about the production (and it is nitpicking - I do it because I can't find adequate superlatives to go on talking about Villazon), I'd say that:

1. The synchronising between lip movements and voices isn't always entirely convincing.
2. The outdoor street scenes look very like a movie set (which they obviously are), as opposed to the interiors, which look much more natural. The result, although very beautiful, seems lacking in a certain unity.
3. Much of the falling snow looks computer-generated to me. Maybe it isn't (in which case I accept the egg on my face), but I find myself not really believing in those snowflakes as they drift around.
4. The widescreen format is fine for a movie in a cinema at full scale, but I've never felt comfortable with it on the small scale of a TV, and most particularly with this opera, on its intimate scale, it doesn't feel right - it induces a sort of claustrophobia, as if the ceiling is always too low, or something.

But I'm now feeling guilty talking about such minutiae, when the overall experience is so positive. This will get watched again and again. 95/100. Star rating (out of five): four and three quarters.

I think it's as pretty as a Christmas postcard. I agree that Villazon is brilliant, vocally maybe the best Rodolfo since Pavarotti and he's a much better actor. I like Netrebko too - she and Villazon always have great chemistry. They were born for each other really - like Fred & Ginger. Her interpretation is different from Freni's, but valid in my opinion. Freni's Mimi is a sweet and innocent girl - Netrebko's is more a 'woman of the world' so to speak, albeit one with a heart of gold.

Anyway, I'm happy that you like it. Act three will break your heart (it's also Netrebko's best act I think). The lip movements are maybe not 100% perfect, but still the best I've ever seen in a opera movie. And they recorded some scenes singing live while they were filming. O yes, the snow is fake, but I don't think it's computer generated. In the documentary there's a scene where Villazon and Netrebko are having a bit of fun and he pulls her down 'in the snow.'

Well, I've sobbed my way to the end now. I think I can safely say that anyone who has a soft spot for La Boheme is going to be very, very satisfied by this. I still think, after seeing/hearing all of it, that Villazon is the real show-stealer. His singing is all I could hope for, and more; and his acting is fascinating - he continually adopts little gestures and expressions that are entirely convincing and natural. The atmosphere of the production throughout is really gorgeous.

This is going to get a lot of airings. Thanks to jhar26 for yet another winning recommendation. (Do you realise, Gaston, that when my copy of L'Orfeo arrives (currently in the post), you will have been solely responsible for doubling the size of my opera DVD collection?)

Originally Posted by jhar26

O yes, the snow is fake, but I don't think it's computer generated. In the documentary there's a scene where Villazon and Netrebko are having a bit of fun and he pulls her down 'in the snow.'

I'll look out for that (haven't watched the extras yet) and check out its impact on my hypothesis!

Yesterday I saw on met player the Manon Lescaut with Domingo and Scotto that's also available on DVD. It's comparable to the one with Kiri and Domingo, both in terms of production and overall quality. I slightly prefer the singers in the minor roles on the Domingo/Kiri DVD and Te Kanawa definitely has a much prettier voice than Renata Scotto, even more so at this point of their respective careers. But Scotto is a good actress and her act four performance especially was so convincing that she made up for it and gave me shivers up and down my spine. Act three was also very intense, maybe even more so than on the Domingo/Kiri DVD. BTW - that third act ranks with the best of Puccini's work in my opinion. In fact, one could argue that dramatically speaking the end of act three would also be the perfect end for the opera. How do they end up in that desert anyway? But anyway - I would call the Covent Garden Domingo/Kiri/Sinopoli vs Met Domingo/Scotto/Levine match-up a draw, meaning that both are very good.

Love this opera, particularly Minnie (Barbara Daniels). It's great to have such a strong female character who actually gets her man instead of dying!

Originally Posted by jhar26

I slightly prefer the singers in the minor roles on the Domingo/Kiri DVD and Te Kanawa definitely has a much prettier voice than Renata Scotto, even more so at this point of their respective careers.

I agree with jhar26 about the minor roles (especially Thomas Allen) - in fact having watched the two DVDs in quick succession I think this is a better production overall; the actors, especially in the crowd scenes, are more effectively staged, the sets and costumes are more attractive and the singing and the acting are better. Kiri was dynamite in the last two acts and you could really believe in Manon and des Grieux's love. Fantastic!

Originally Posted by Rangstrom

Started the Netrebko-Villazon La Boheme. I hate to buy into the hype but this is damn good.

Buy into the hype my friend. If it's good it's good, and this one definitely is good - very good actually.

Originally Posted by Elgarian

May I ask for opinions again please? Is this the Manon Lescaut to get?

Yes, it is.