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DVD : Donizetti - Don Pasquale
Rating: 
- Humans: 3, Stuffed Animals: 0
What a shame that the only existing DVD of Juan Diego Florez in one of his signature roles is in this wrong-headed "Don Pasquale." Wrong-headed because once again we have an opera director for whom restraint seems to be a four-letter word. Yes, this is opera buffa, but as anyone who has seen a successful performance of this piece knows, the moments of comedy are leavened with those of genuine heart and poignancy. None of which is in evidence here...unless Senor Florez is on stage -- alone. The opening of Act II is magnificently sung, passionate and sincere. Donizetti is known for giving his tenors these moments of emotional clarity in his comic operas, and Florez makes the most of it; honestly, I've never heard him sing better. And then Raimondi and his teddy bears (don't ask) come back onstage and the whole thing once again falls into mindless schtick.
As another reviewer noted, Isabel Rey, while sounding fine, is way too old for the role, particularly in close-up. And who on Earth is that mute servant dogging her every move? It's baffling to me why some modern day opera directors, like this one, feel the necessity to add non-singing characters that the composer and librettist didn't. One can only imagine he has no confidence in the piece as actually written. Raimondi, a solid dramatic baritone, seems not to have a single, naturally funny bone in his body. Nor does he really connect to the piece's darker, deeper moments, when Pasquale must face the realities of ageing and Life having passed him by. Ultimately, the performance makes little impression.
Visually this is a bright, at times garish and ugly production. One can only hope that someone will have the wherewithal to film Florez again, hopefully under the aegis of a director who understands the subtleties that are required for making this kind of operatic treat both hilarious AND moving.
Rating:
- Another wonderful vehicle for Florez
Having been extremely satisfied with my two earlier purchases of DVDs in which Juan Diego Florez has performed (La Fille du Regiment and Il Barbiere di Siviglia); I knew that it would not be long before I found it necessary to acquire this version of Don Pasquale. As expected, his performance is everything I hoped it would be and nothing more needs to be added to that. I was a little disappointed that Ruggero Raimondi's voice was at certain times extremely difficult to hear over the volume coming from the orchestra whereas I was pleasantly surprised by Oliver Widmer's performance and clarity of pronunciation, however, there appeared to be a small amount of echo present during the first part of the work that affected everyone. Isabel Rey's voice more than made up for the fact that she was possibly too old for the Don's nephew, Ernesto, to be romantically interested in but, with the apparently successful marriage of Demi Moore and Ashton Kucher in real life, maybe a number of us are making too much of that issue.
The stage set was very interesting from the moment it split in two and folded open during the overture, to rotating completely to provide two other locations that were able to look completely different. Like the other reviewer, I found the presence of the teddy bears completely unnecessary and rather incongruous. I have no negative comments regarding the costumes or the changing of the time period; IMHO it all seemed to work quite well. I prefer this version to the one from the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari which, in too many areas (especially makeup, costumes and overacting), seems to come off as a little amateurish by comparison.
Rating:
- Don Pasquale
Don Pasquale, featuring tenor Juan diego Florez, is excellent. It is a
refreshing presentation with a more modern setting than usual.
Rating: - Good on-stage performers but rather sluggish conducting
This production isn't really that bad - you won't throw money away, but it is some what below the top mainly owning to rather disintereted conducting.
The singers strove to give their utmost. Even veteran Ruggiero Raimondi, obviously past his prime, gave a hilarious performance of his great duet with Widmer. Yea, he seemed to have been 'saving' his voice throughout for this duet. But there aren't really much singing parts for the Don throughout this opera, so most of the time he employed effective acting to convey his character to the audience.
JDF is as engaging as ever, though this role is obviously not a big challenge to him.
If there are any disappointment on-stage it is Isabel Rey - not vocally, of which she is more than adequate. It is her makeup and looks. This Norina is simply to mature looking with too heavily-madeup. I have to check on the internet for a more detailed resume of Ms Rey - to find out her age. And I am shocked to learn that she is in fact younger than JDF.
Only if the MET production with Anna Netrebko is being released on DVD!
Rating: - Molto Bene!
Donizetti created this masterpiece knowing that it required an outstnding cast, and here indeed it has just that. Having grown up with my ears seduced by the velvet of Tito Schipa I expected Flores might be a come down--- I should have know better! This is not just a "tenore de grazia" buy indeed a super-tenor. But all the other voices are equally apt, and the staging is splendid. And the music! One wonderful melody, rich in harmony, after another. And the story is good too. What more can one ask?
- Humans: 3, Stuffed Animals: 0What a shame that the only existing DVD of Juan Diego Florez in one of his signature roles is in this wrong-headed "Don Pasquale." Wrong-headed because once again we have an opera director for whom restraint seems to be a four-letter word. Yes, this is opera buffa, but as anyone who has seen a successful performance of this piece knows, the moments of comedy are leavened with those of genuine heart and poignancy. None of which is in evidence here...unless Senor Florez is on stage -- alone. The opening of Act II is magnificently sung, passionate and sincere. Donizetti is known for giving his tenors these moments of emotional clarity in his comic operas, and Florez makes the most of it; honestly, I've never heard him sing better. And then Raimondi and his teddy bears (don't ask) come back onstage and the whole thing once again falls into mindless schtick.
As another reviewer noted, Isabel Rey, while sounding fine, is way too old for the role, particularly in close-up. And who on Earth is that mute servant dogging her every move? It's baffling to me why some modern day opera directors, like this one, feel the necessity to add non-singing characters that the composer and librettist didn't. One can only imagine he has no confidence in the piece as actually written. Raimondi, a solid dramatic baritone, seems not to have a single, naturally funny bone in his body. Nor does he really connect to the piece's darker, deeper moments, when Pasquale must face the realities of ageing and Life having passed him by. Ultimately, the performance makes little impression.
Visually this is a bright, at times garish and ugly production. One can only hope that someone will have the wherewithal to film Florez again, hopefully under the aegis of a director who understands the subtleties that are required for making this kind of operatic treat both hilarious AND moving.
Rating:
- Another wonderful vehicle for FlorezHaving been extremely satisfied with my two earlier purchases of DVDs in which Juan Diego Florez has performed (La Fille du Regiment and Il Barbiere di Siviglia); I knew that it would not be long before I found it necessary to acquire this version of Don Pasquale. As expected, his performance is everything I hoped it would be and nothing more needs to be added to that. I was a little disappointed that Ruggero Raimondi's voice was at certain times extremely difficult to hear over the volume coming from the orchestra whereas I was pleasantly surprised by Oliver Widmer's performance and clarity of pronunciation, however, there appeared to be a small amount of echo present during the first part of the work that affected everyone. Isabel Rey's voice more than made up for the fact that she was possibly too old for the Don's nephew, Ernesto, to be romantically interested in but, with the apparently successful marriage of Demi Moore and Ashton Kucher in real life, maybe a number of us are making too much of that issue.
The stage set was very interesting from the moment it split in two and folded open during the overture, to rotating completely to provide two other locations that were able to look completely different. Like the other reviewer, I found the presence of the teddy bears completely unnecessary and rather incongruous. I have no negative comments regarding the costumes or the changing of the time period; IMHO it all seemed to work quite well. I prefer this version to the one from the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari which, in too many areas (especially makeup, costumes and overacting), seems to come off as a little amateurish by comparison.
Rating:
- Don PasqualeDon Pasquale, featuring tenor Juan diego Florez, is excellent. It is a
refreshing presentation with a more modern setting than usual.
Rating:
- Good on-stage performers but rather sluggish conductingThis production isn't really that bad - you won't throw money away, but it is some what below the top mainly owning to rather disintereted conducting.
The singers strove to give their utmost. Even veteran Ruggiero Raimondi, obviously past his prime, gave a hilarious performance of his great duet with Widmer. Yea, he seemed to have been 'saving' his voice throughout for this duet. But there aren't really much singing parts for the Don throughout this opera, so most of the time he employed effective acting to convey his character to the audience.
JDF is as engaging as ever, though this role is obviously not a big challenge to him.
If there are any disappointment on-stage it is Isabel Rey - not vocally, of which she is more than adequate. It is her makeup and looks. This Norina is simply to mature looking with too heavily-madeup. I have to check on the internet for a more detailed resume of Ms Rey - to find out her age. And I am shocked to learn that she is in fact younger than JDF.
Only if the MET production with Anna Netrebko is being released on DVD!
Rating:
- Molto Bene!Donizetti created this masterpiece knowing that it required an outstnding cast, and here indeed it has just that. Having grown up with my ears seduced by the velvet of Tito Schipa I expected Flores might be a come down--- I should have know better! This is not just a "tenore de grazia" buy indeed a super-tenor. But all the other voices are equally apt, and the staging is splendid. And the music! One wonderful melody, rich in harmony, after another. And the story is good too. What more can one ask?
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