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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD EAN: 9780769776941 Format: Classical, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC ISBN: 0769776949 Label: Kultur Video Languages: Manufacturer: Kultur Video MPN: D2033D Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Kultur Video Region Code: 1 Release Date: August 31, 2004 Running Time: 137 minutes Studio: Kultur Video Theatrical Release Date: 1982 Editorial Review: Amazon.com: In this thrilling performance at La Scala, Plácido Domingo and Mirella Freni show why, when they were in the prime of their careers, they could carry even the most melodramatic of Verdi vehicles on their shoulders. As Donna Elvira, whom a trio of men has designs on for various honest and sordid reasons, Freni is a wellspring of ardent passion that sweeps the audience along, while Domingo's title hero is an equally inspired creation; their singing during the tragic finale underscores its worth as one of Verdi's most moving denouements. Luca Ronconi's functional production isn't particularly inspired yet manages to conjure the necessary atmosphere. Obviously, it's Verdi's vivid music that carries the day, with Riccardo Muti conducting the score to a fare-thee-well, from the subdued and mood-setting prelude to the crackling choruses and the beautifully handled ending. Ably abetting Freni and Domingo with their full-throated portrayals are the other male leads, Renato Bruson (Don Carlo) and Nicolai Ghiaurov (Don Ruy), creating a quartet of masterly Verdi singers not often seen and heard on the same stage. --Kevin Filipski Description: This outstanding production of Verdi's tragic opera stars four of the world's great Verdi singers; Placido Domingo, Renato Bruson, Nicolai Ghiaurov and Mirella Freni as the gentle heroine desired by these three rivals. They have been described as "possibly the best quartet of singers any opera house has managed to assemble this year" - The Times. The cast give an impassioned performance under the baton of Riccardo Muti, an acclaimed interpreter of Verdi. Based on Victor Hugo's play, this violent and sombre story of frustrated passion, and ambition thwarted and rewarded, is set by the composer to a succession of irresistible tunes, unsurpassed even in his mature works. The opera's dramatic impetus is simply unstoppable. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - For lovers of early Verdi, this is an unqualified treatErnani is a contender for silliest opera ever, and damned if I don't love every minute of it! Okay, okay, I know all the knocks against early Verdi put forth by the highminded intellectuals of academia who want everything to be Wagner, it's crude, it's empty, yada yada yada. Crude in comparison to what? Aida? Well, duh! Crude in comparison to Bellini or Donizetti? Hardly. Early Verdi is bel canto but amped up with a heavy metal attitude, overflowing with melodiousness but with enough youthful energy ... Read More Rating:  - Buyers bewareTechnically this DVD is a disaster. The sound is very poorly reproduced as other reviewers will attest. Moreover, if one tries to access a particular scene the sound disappears completely! This opera is fairly early in Verdi's output so there is quite a bit of standing about while the music churns on. Too often one gets the feeling that the singers were given no stage direction at all. The camera often catches them in attitudes which suggest "what do I do now." This even applies to Domingo who is ... Read More Rating: - Excellent production but two numbers are missingErnani may be early Verdi, but it stands up well against his more famous operas. Its ensemble pieces have the wild feel of Il Trovatore, the choruses are spirited, and the bel canto arias make beautiful use of the human voice. If you're only going to buy one DVD of the opera, it's hard to choose between this La Scala production of 1982 and The Met production of 1983. The principal reason for choosing this production over The Met is that Mirella Freni so outshines Leona Mitchell as Elvira ... Read More Rating: - An outstanding performance but very poor recordingMany positive comments have been made on this La Scala version of ERNANI. I believe those comments to be entirely justified: Plácido Domingo, Mirella Freni, Renato Bruson, Nicolai Ghiaurov, and Riccardo Muti are legendary musicians that have changed opera performance, and by the way, improved it. However, there's a slight problem with the sound on this DVD. Despite the maximums and minimums on volumen control, everything is OK during the first act. When the performance reaches ... Read More Rating: - MIRELLA FRENI CHANGES THE NAME OF THE OPERAWHEN VERDI WROTE "ERNANI" (1844), HE WAS FASCINATED BY THE VOICE OF TENOR GAETANO FRASCHINI (1818-1887), THUS HE MADE THE TENOR'S ROLE THE TITLE-ROLE. IF HE HAD WRITTEN THIS OPERA ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER, AND HEARD MIRELLA'S VOICE SOARING ABOVE THE WHOLE CAST AT THE END OF ACT ONE, THAT SWEET AND PURE LYRIC VOICE YET SO ROUNDED AND POWERFUL, HE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE NAMED THE OPERA "ELVIRA" !!! |
