Vincenzo Bellini - I Puritani (2007)

Bellini's best

I loved this film, and enjoyed it very much. Netrebko is a most excellent Elvira, and the rest of the cast completely lived up to her. Recommend this DVD highly for anyone who loves opera on film. September 1, 2008

Terrible performance ...

Lots of cuts, few high notes, no trills, many vocal transpositions down to a safer tessitura ... And an horrible old production.

Il you really want to hear this work, buy the Pavarotti/Sutherland CD but this DVD won't even give you an idea of what a beautiful work this can be with real belcanto specialists. June 24, 2008

Netrebko and Nothing More

This 2007 DVD is puzzling. With Juan Diego Florez scheduled to sing Arturo at the Met in the near future, why did the Met choose to film this production, with the WORST tenor who has ever sung it at the Met since its 1976 inception (Luciano Pavarotti sang it then, and it has been downhill ever since)? Eric Cutler is absolutely awful as Arturo; when he goes to sing his high D-flat in his opening aria, the camera is on the soprano, Anna Netrebko, indicating that maybe Cutler missed the note and they had to edit something in later. Elsewhere, his singing is more unpleasant than any Arturo I have heard in performance or recording.
As for Netrebko, her interpretive skills are excellent, and she is a very charismatic performer. Most of the other reviewers have covered this in detail.
The other members of the cast are variable. Franco Vassallo, the Riccardo, is also about the worst Riccardo I have heard. The 1976 Met production featured Sherrill Milnes, and since then Paolo Gavanelli and Thomas Hampson sang the role (Pablo Elvira and Matteo Manuguerra also sang the role with distinction elsewhere) much better than Vassallo does here. Vassallo's mouth vibrates excessively, with the inevitable forcing and spreading of the tone. His range does not extend to the top (interpolated) notes of the role, and in general he sounds like a comprimario. John Relyea, as Giorgio, does sing out of the left side of his mouth, but in general sings with feeling, and is not a liability.
A further word about this performance. For some reason, the Met chose to open some cuts, but introduce others that create musical imbalances. In Act 1, Riccardo's cabaletta has both verses, but then near the end there is a jarring cut to nearly the end of the piece, and it does not work. At the end of the Elvira/Giorgio duet there is only one verse, and then the end of the number is also hacked up, including the orchestral part. Sometimes singers request cuts to save their voices, but why cut the orchestral part? Similarly, much of the opening orchestral/choral music is cut.
Unfortunately, this recording reflects the outdated philosophy that an opera only needs a prima donna. I hope that Florez records the role of Arturo soon with a good soprano so that there is a more balanced recording available. May 4, 2008

The old Stand and sing MET

The telecast of Fille du regiment set a very high standard for opera in genral and for the Met specifically. They returned to their old "star-driven" stand and sing production for Netrebko. The chorus was static and uninvolved, the baritone was loud and unsubtle, the tenor was tall, handsome and VERY nasal and the young bass has started to sing out of the side of his mouth. There must have been dubious cuts and the only acting and movement were done by Netrebko. Hers is a beautiful instrument, but not really suited to this kind of music.
I hope the Met keeps going in the new direction of energized and logical porductions. This was a true disappointment. May 1, 2008

DISAPPOINTING..... DO NOT BUY THIS DVD

What a waste of money. Do not buy this DVD. Two of the males sing and act awful,John Relyea and specially Arturo sung by Eric Cutler is really a third class tenor or less. He does not sing, just shout. In some moments you think his throat will come out. Is absolutelly unpleasant to listen him singing. Is not a partner for Netrebko at all. Franco Vasallo as Riccardo sings very good. The Orchestra an Chorus are very good too.

Netrebko as always, sings and act very good but this is not a role for her voice. As another reviewer said she has not the coloratura required. If you are used to listen this role sung by Sutherland and Gruberova............ there is no comparison at all. Before buying this DVD I read many reviews, even the 2 stars. I decided to buy it because of Netrebko but never thought it was going to be as disapointing as it is. The Metropolitan Opera managers and Deutsche Grammophon should be ashamed to have produced the opera with that cast and the DVD, even with Netrebko singing.

If you want a very good I puritani's DVD. Buy the one sung by Gruberova at the Barcelona's Liceu. To listen buy the Sutherland-Pavarotti (it is a masterclass about how Puritani should be sung). Is absolutelly great and you will appreciate the beauty of this opera.

Again shame on Met and DG. I feel absolutelly cheated by them. April 25, 2008

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