Arts Movie Reviews

Beautifully staged, packed with drama and emotions, this "Romeo et Juliette" gives the feeling of a modern Shakespearean production. The artistic design is simple and straightforward, and yet, serves the purpose quite well and permits more focusing on the characters. But for all of its elegance and charm, nothing is really extraordinary. I'm probably missing something here, as I experienced few of the wonders that others have expressed.
The singings are good, but not exciting, even for Roberto Alagna, whose singing here is not well formed compared to some of his other recordings. He has a nice voice in the middle register, but as it ascends, it becomes white and bit of insecure. Leontina Vaduva's singing in the role of Juliette is weak. For some reason, at times, it feels weary watching her singing and acting. Both Vaduva and Alagna's acting are somewhat stagy, loaded with vehemence, while what's really lacking is the emotional communication between them. I think that one thing they could do better is to look into each other's eyes more often. The doomed lovers' death scene in Act V is affecting, but doesn't reach the dramatic hilt I expected, but again, it could be just me.

I've just ordered this DVD after watching it on PBS. I'm an opera tenor myself and not always enamored with Roberto Alagna. But he does an absolutely superb job here, and Vaduva matches and balances him perfectly. Their acting, right down to their dual deaths at the end, is natural and not contrived as many operas seem. I've heard, seen, and sung in many operas around the world, but it really doesn't get better than this!

The reason to purchase this DVD of Romeo et Juliette by Gounod is the wonderful, expressive singing of Roberto Alagna and Leontina Vaduva. Not only do they sound great, they LOOK great and act their parts sincerely and movingly. The final scene of this opera with the two doomed and dying lovers desperately reaching out for one last unobtainable kiss could "make the stones weep" in this Covent Garden performance, taped in 1994. The production is somewhat sparse but traditional, with beautiful costumes and atmosphere. Supporting singers Francois Le Roux and Robert Lloyd do a fine job, but the focus of this performance is the two lovers and Alagna and Vaduva convince you with their voices and their demeanor that they are exactly that: young and in love. Two of the many vocal highlights are Alagna's aria, "Ah, leve-toi soleil" and the ensemble that ends Act Three. Anytime the two lovers are onstage, there is operatic magic (all too rare these days). Alagna combines French style with Italian bravura and Vaduva has a voice with sweetness and vulnerablity which seems to grow in size for the dramatic and often cut Poison Aria.
This DVD comes highly recommended to lovers of great singing which too often, in present times, is cast aside for singers who "look and act the part". What a treat to have both!!!!

This VHS is supreme! Every single great diva and divo are represented. I find the picture and sound very exceptable. In fact, it's very good for that time period.
The highlights are too many to name. But if I was to name a few, it would be Leontyne Price singing the Verdi arias, Nilsson singing "In questa reggio", Franco Corelli, and Sutherland singing the mad scene for Lucia di Lammermoor.
I admit at being speechless after seeing and hearing Dame Joan perform this role in this tape. In all my life, I've never heard such singing of the most difficult music you can imagine. I know she's supposed to be the greatest coloratura of our time, but I never knew she was ever that good. Sorry for going on and on about this one, but gee, this is beyond praise.
Another interesting point is the different style of fashion and makeup the women had in those days. It's just a hoot.
There are some disappintments also, Callas was not what she was supposed to be. Her Vissi D'arte just wasn't that good.
But all in all, I love this tape, I must have played it a dozen times since I bought it a month ago. Bravo.

Here are two hours of treasures from the Bell Telephone Hour, aired from 1959 to 1966. These are complete scenes and arias, most staged with costumes and sets typical of 60's television. It contains a dazzling array of opera superstars, many performing scenes from their signature roles: Tebaldi (Butterfly), de los Angeles (Boheme), Richard Tucker (Pagliacci), Corelli and Crespin (Tosca and Ballo), Di Stefano (Manon), Simionato and Vickers (Aida), London (Boris Godunov), and Moffo and Gedda (Traviata).

Joan Sutherland gives a stunning performance of the mad scene from Lucia from the year of her Met debut. The scene is complete from Lucia's entrance to her death, and if there were nothing else on this DVD, this alone would be reason enough to run right out and buy it. Leontyne Price brings her rich, dark voice to D'amor sull'ali rosee (Trovatore) and Ritorna vincitor (Aida), reminding us why she owned these roles thoughout her career. Birgit Nilsson shines In questa reggia (Turandot) and the immolation scene (Gotterdammerung). What a thrill to see Sutherland, Price, and Nilsson in their prime, singing roles for which they set the standard. And what a thrill to see the under-recorded Eileen Farrell singing Isolde's Liebestod, though whoever thought to dress her somewhat like a nun in a pillbox hat and veil should be dealt with severely.

On the down side, some of the acting is of the silent movie variety, but that is easily forgiven given the quality of singing. Robert Merrill and Roberta Peters mar otherwise fine vocalism (Dunque io son from The Barber of Seville) with some pretty competitive mugging, playing more to the camera than to each other. And Rise Stevens sings a rather dull and very long scene from Victor Herbert's Natoma. Still there is a lot to love here. If this DVD is your cup of tea, take a look at Great Moments in Opera from the Ed Sullivan Show too.

This is the one to get if you're on a budget and want to see and hear the greatest singers of the 20th century in their glorious prime. We all have our favorites. But you can't mention divas without mentioning Price, Nilsson, Tebaldi, and Sutherland. All in top form. It was a real treat to see Price sing her Verdi arias so gloriously. She was certainly one of my favorite divas of all time. But then I also think Tebaldi is a contender for the voice of the century. Everyone knows that Nilsson is the Wagnerian soprano of the Century, but can she beat out Joan Sutherland, which mad scene from Lucia may well be one of the most astonishing thing ever to be put on tape. On the male side, my wife went crazy about Franco Corelli's drop dead gorgeous movie star looks. She keeps rewinding that portion of the DVD. I have to admit he is a good looking guy, but I'm more impressed with his superhuman tenor voice. He is probably the tenor of the Century along with Mario Del Monaco.
This is a thrilling opera potpouri that my wife and I can't stop watching. If it was a tape, we would have worn it out months ago! I give it 10 stars!

I thought Callas was supposed to be a great singer. I found her performance, boring, and acting unconvincing, her voice unattractive, and her appearance homely.
Another disappointment is Sutherland in the Lucia item. She was out of tune and looked bored.
All is not lost however. Corelli is sublime is his two selection, and may I say handsome as anyone I've ever seen.
Price's Vissi D'arte far better than Callas's.
That's my opionion, take it or leave it.

How can anyone give this awesome collection of performances only 2 stars???? Everyone on here give wonderful performances that have me jumping and shouting brava/bravo/bravi continually! Everyone is in his/her prime (exception for Peerce and Pons but even they are in superb voice). This has become my favorite opera DVD of this sort, with "Great Stars of Opera" my next favorite.

Ok, so Callas isn't that great, and you may not like Sutherland (neither do I), but that's no reason to give this SUPERB collection only two stars (equivalent to a "D", poor). The rest of the selections showcase superstars at the peak of their powers, with the exception of Lily Pons, who was past her prime (but was in really, really good voice for her age). Leontyne Price sang a thrilling and heartfelt Vissi D'arte. I love looking at her mouth and tongue when she sings hehe. Roberta Peters, in my opinion, was one of the top 3 performers of this DVD. She sang a joyful, bouncy Una Voce Poco Fa, complete with high F at the end; an excellent "Waltz" from Romeo and Juliet, truly one the best renditions I've EVER heard (lyrically sweet but full of swagger); and a great bell song from Lakme (Peters in her prime had an extraordinary top range). My personal favorite is Beverly Sills' O luce di quest'anima. Now THAT is what coloratura fireworks are! Lots of fast notes, and abounding high notes! Sills had exceptional coloratura ability that exceeded EVERY other coloratura soprano I've heard, including Sutherland, Gruberova, Jo, Anderson, etc. In her prime, her fioritura was unmatchable and she had easy high F's.
Birgit Nilsson was always in peak vocal condition and sang a more lyrical Pace Pace, which I don't mind at all. It's actually kind of nice. And of course, singing her signature Vissi D'arte, it's always pure perfection! No one can toss off such a ringing B flat like that! Eileen Farrel, an underrated and highly underappreciated soprano, gets to show off her stuff and sings two arias extremely well. She had the perfect spinto voice for Un Bel Di, and what a thrilling B flat at the end! And it looks so effortless too! She just opens her mouth and there it is! (unlike Leontyne Price, who shows a sign of effort and hard work in her face getting a Bflat in her vissi darte). Farrell also sings an excellent Pace Pace, more powerful than Nilsson's, and very very beautiful to listen to! Anna Moffo isn't one of my favorite sopranos, but she does some great singing. Her regimento selection is kinda seductive (see especially HOW seductive she looks, with her eyelashes batting, and how she plays with her dress), and her Ballatella is one of hte best I've heard. There are duets galore in this DVD. My favorite is the duet from La Forza. Merrill's and Peerce's voices blend so well together, and with this meltingly powerful music, it's absolutely exciting! Peerce at that age and singing that well, now that is amazing, too. Roberta Peters and Merrill sing a lovely duet from Traviata. My second favorite duet is Tebaldi and Corelli in Vicino a Te. I love this music very much, and to have these two legendary and sublime voices weave it, words can't describe the beauty of the result. I think Tebaldi's voice sounds better with Corelli's than Del Monaco's, and wish the former two sung together more often. I'm not too crazy over the duet with Dorothy Kirsten and Corelli in O soave fanciulla. Corelli's voice has too much spinto to sing Rodolfo's music. The singing in the duet is just fine, but not as lyrically as I prefer. Sutherland and Horne team up once again, and come out again with a beautiful duet. Like Tebaldi and Corelli, and Peerce and Merrill, the two's voices blend so well. And here we hear Bellini's great bel canto melodies sung to perfection.

This has become one of my all-time favorite opera DVD's because of such a huge and superb collection of great singing from favorite opera superstars. I recommend this with 10 stars!

Unlike Demme's approach with Swimming to Cambodia, which, like Stop Making Sense, tried to capture the essence of a live performance, Soderberg tries to get inside Gray's head, crawl out and display what's in there.
That I prefer Swimming to Cambodia is not too much of a criticism as Gray's Anatomy has a lot going for it.
The whole thing is carried by Spalding's energy, wit and charisma and if the stylistic, visual tropes detract from Spalding's natural performance they are at least imaginatively conceived.
I liked the vox pops inserts, but (having read the book version) I was dismayed that their addition seemed to mean that a whole chunk of the monologue was ommited (Gray's marriage to Renee).
However, on the basis of Grays Anatomy and Swimming to Cambodia (I have Monster in a box on order) I wish more of his monologues were filmed - one a year would do me fine.

entertaining, well fleshed out with the stories of other patients - Spalding Gray at his best.

This is the story of a very neurotic man who can't cope with having something wrong with his eye. I loved this movie. Spalding Gray is funny, smart, insightful, and full of angst. He manages to make his anxieties hillarious. I loved the way this movie was edited. I loved the intercut anecdotes of strange things that have happened to people's eyes, the commentary on the movie, and the visual representations of Spalding's journey to ever more bizarre alternative healers. I have seen the movie four times, and it just keeps on getting better.

I'm really surprised that, in 2003, is still possible to see films like this: Gounod's magnificent opera here is cut by a butcher (running time 73 minutes, against the three hours of any integral recording!!!) who is trying to restore the 40s and 50s mode for b movie based on opera.
It's really a shame, since we have the most beautiful Romeo and Juliet of the century, Alagna and Gheourghiu, giving a marvellous and poignant musical and theatrical superb performance, but what a frame! the set (supposed to be in Verona but here in Eastern Europe, in a Snow-White-looking castle really funny)is near to amateurish (as well as frame characters, the out-of-tune Laurent and Mercutio) and the production is relly a bad trick to Gheorghiu and Alagna's exceptional performance. What a waste!!!A performance of the couple in their last Salzburg show would have been thousands times better then this!!!Anyway, their singing is worth enough to purchase the dvd.