Hausa Movie Reviews

Related Subjects: Language_and_Linguistics
Family movie reviews for "Hausa" sorted by average review score:
Mozart - Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) / Barenboim, Pape, Roschmann, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin
Released in DVD by Art Haus Musik (03 July, 2000)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Starring: Dorothea Roschmann, Roman Trekel, and Rene Pape
The primary virtue of this Berlin production may be its intensity--a quality not usually associated with Mozart performances and perhaps one that should be tried more often. Indeed, those who think of Mozart as a sort of cherub, not quite adapted to this world where he lived for such a short time, may be shocked. If so, they should take a closer look at the opera. Yes, it is a comedy--often very funny--but not really light-hearted (like, for example, The Barber of Seville, which has many of the same characters). It is a comedy about varieties of sexual harassment. This serious theme gives the work a special depth that is brought out effectively here. The intensity is most notable in the testosterone-driven roles of Count Almaviva, played on the verge of desperation by Roman Trekel, and the energetically raunchy Cherubino of Patricia Risley. It takes on different nuances in the ingenious Figaro of Rene Pape, the level-headed Susanna of Dorothea Roschmann, and the sweetly depressed Countess of Emily Magee--all roles that have been carefully considered and are interpreted with musical precision to balance their theatrical strength.

Besides the singers mentioned above, this 1999 performance deserves special credit for including Peter Schreier in the small role of Don Basilio. He was one of the great tenors of the 20th century, and it is good to see him still doing justice to Mozart at this late stage of his career. --Joe McLellan

Average review score:

Satisfaction guaranteed
"Satisfaction guaranteed" I baptise this comment, because by the time this dvd ends you're likely to be satisfied all-round. It is one of those performances where the end-sum ends up adding more than its parts, an ensemble success if there ever was one with no particularly outstanding, aweing contributions. ... Pape and Roschmann heading a very sucessful group of principal characters and Barenboim conducting very lively throughout, even riotously in the second half of the second act, his impeccable band of musicians. If you were in the Staatsoper Unter Den Linden the evening this quite traditional staging was taped, you're likely to have headed towards your after-theatre dinner or to your hotel with a smile as broad as your face.

BRAVO!.........
This review refers to Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro", DVD editon by ArtHaus Musik((Bel Air Media)..

This production of "The Marriage of Figaro" is simply charming.
I was enchanted by the entire four acts and impressed by the quality of the DVD as well. The singers were strong and emotional. They brought their own take and nuances to these characters and portrayed them beautifully. The orchestra was magnificent and did justice to the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The story is romantic, witty, complex and spellbinding.
Figaro, a servant of Count Almaviva, and Susanna, personal maid to the Countess Rosina, are planning their wedding...but..there are some problems to be worked out first. The Count, lusts after Susanna(as well as others) and makes it clear that he intends to envoke "jus primae noctis"(the right of the first night)before giving his consent to the marriage. Meanwhile Marcellina, another servant in the household is holding Figaro to his onced promised marriage to her. The Countess is depressed over the infidelities of her husband and conspires with Susanna to prove his unfaithfulness. And always in the middle of all this scheming between the sexes is the irrepressible Cherubino, the Count's young page, who loves all the women and can hardly contain himself around them. It is a battle of the sexes set to wonderful music.

The performance at the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin includes this outstanding cast. Rene Pape as Figaro, Dorothea Roschmann as Susanna, Emily Magee as The Countess, Roman Trekel as The Count and in a performance that will steal your heart, Patricia Risley as Cherubino. The music is conducted to perfection by Daniel Barenboim,and is under the direction of Thomas Langhoff with the State Opera Choir Berlin.

The DVD is an excellent quality. It's the next best thing to actually being there.It looks great and the music and voices fill the room in Dolby Digital 5.1. The production is in Italian, and may be viewed with English or Japanese subtitles if you choose. The menu may be viewed in several languages(see tech info here), and there are some production notes as well. It is nicely packaged in a jewel case, and includes a booklet that is more like a program. It has the scenes listed and their are summaries of each act in several languages, including English. There are also some notes on Mozart as well.

Even with the placement of some modern day props(the marker, "Vogue" magazine, a ball point pen), which I personally thought was a touch of whimsy, I was absolutely caught up in the time and place, the music and the story.I felt the same enthusiasm the audience did as they cheered this performance. All that was missing was the very expensive tickets and a little ambiance. Highly recommended for lovers of Mozart and Opera.

Enjoy...Laurie

Great Singing, Effective No-frills Production
Unlike other reviewers, I really liked this DVD. Two things initially attracted me, one of which you won't see above. First, Rene Pape as Figaro. Second, Digital 5.1 (advertised) sound.

The attractive cast, led by Rene Pape, as expected, is terrific. Pape is reasonably good looking, has a deep rich bass/baritone that actually produces endorphins when I hear him sing, and is an excellent actor. Dorothea Roeschmann's Susanna, Patricia Risley's Cherubino and Emily Magee as the Countess all get five stars for thrilling singing, great looks and perfect ensemble comic form. Roman Trekel is fine, but not as vocally strong as the rest of the cast.

Barenboim holds the score like a cork holds champagne: the music brims and bristles, always contained, always ready to burst. This is exactly right for this great opera. The sound is excellent. I read below that one listener seemed to have trouble with the middle channel. I had no trouble. From my system, the sound was rich and clear.

What can I say about the production? It's not ideal. Some of it seems a little spare and thrown together. There's a lot of unfortunate thumping around on a hollow stage. But it doesn't get in the way of the actors. In a 10 star system, it would lose a star. But this is a five star system, and the production works as a piece of theater where so many traditional productions exist merely to keep the audience occupied during soporiphic proceedings. I can recommend this DVD without reserve as one of the best examples of what can be done with the medium.

Related Subjects: Language_and_Linguistics