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Puccini - La Boheme [2008]

starring: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Richard Pearson, Paul Plishka, Renée Fleming, Angela Gheorghiu
directed by: Gary Halvorson

September 15, 2008

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Verdi: La Traviata -- Royal Opera House [1994] (NTSC)

starring: Angela Gheorghiu, Frank Lopardo, Leo Nucci, Leah-Marian Jones, Gillian Knight
directed by: Humphrey Burton, Peter Maniura

March 12, 2001
This is the opera that shot Georgiu to stardom. It's easy to see why, with her combination of acting, looks and singing. Violetta is a very difficult role, it places very different demands on the singer in each act. Georgiu isn't quite ideal for act 1, but after that she's really in her element. You can practically see the paternal pride in Solti's face as he watches his young protegee bloom. Surely the definitive Traviata.

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Puccini: Tosca -- 2002 Film Version

starring: Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Ruggero Raimondi, David Cangelosi, Sorin Coliban
directed by: Benoît Jacquot

June 30, 2003
Superb performances by a stellar cast are badly marred by intrusive and unneccessary insertions of rehearsal and recording shots, even worse, occasional commentary. This DVD should not be marketed as an opera production, it is a travesty, destroying the atmosphere at some of the most sublime moments, Puccini must be turning in his grave and I am appalled that the Royal Opera House allowed their excellent production to be tampered with in this way.

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Giuseppe Verdi - La Traviata [2007] (NTSC)

starring: Angela Gheorghiu, Ramon Vargas, Enrico Cossutta, Luigi Roni, Roberto Frontali
directed by: Liliana Cavani, Maria Paola Longobardo

September 01, 2008
Superb performances by a stellar cast are badly marred by intrusive and unneccessary insertions of rehearsal and recording shots, even worse, occasional commentary. This DVD should not be marketed as an opera production, it is a travesty, destroying the atmosphere at some of the most sublime moments, Puccini must be turning in his grave and I am appalled that the Royal Opera House allowed their excellent production to be tampered with in this way.

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Donizetti: L'Elisir D'Amore (The Elixir of Love) [1996] (NTSC)

starring: Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Roberto Scaltriti, Simone Alaimo, Elena Dan
directed by: Brian Large

March 11, 2002
You can't forget you are watching a stage production here - but it's none the worse for that. I agree the costumes added nothing but confusion to the story, but the music sounded fine on ordinary equipment and to non-technical ears, and the two stars are warm and delightful.

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Angela Gheorghiu - L'Elisir D'Amore - Donizetti

starring: Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Roberto Scaltriti, Simone Alaimo, Elena Dan
directed by: Brian Large

June 13, 2005
You can't forget you are watching a stage production here - but it's none the worse for that. I agree the costumes added nothing but confusion to the story, but the music sounded fine on ordinary equipment and to non-technical ears, and the two stars are warm and delightful.

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Verdi - Messa Da Requiem (Alagna, Gheorghiu) [2002] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Angela Gheorghiu, Daniela Barcellona, Roberto Alagna, Julian Konstantinov, Claudio Abbado

April 15, 2002
Verdi's Requiem Mass has been described as his greatest opera, and it is undeniable that it has an abundance of drama. For those who have not heard this work, it goes well beyond preconceptions of 'sacred' music and grips the listener's emotions mercilessly. Of all the requiems that I have heard (and have sung as a bass chorus member) it is a personal favourite.
For years my first choice of recording was Telarc's magnificent achievement conducted by Robert Shaw, and I was ambivalent when I first saw this one as a CD. Live performances have sometimes disappointed me because of the compromise between excluding audience noise and allowing sufficient ambience. This one appeared to have solved the riddle and I had few complaints.
Later the DVD version appeared and ... Read More:

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La Traviata - The Story of the Opera [2001]

starring: Kathleen Cassello, Roberto Alagna, Leo Nucci, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Angela Gheorghiu
directed by: Marie Blanc-Hermaline

August 18, 2008
Verdi's Requiem Mass has been described as his greatest opera, and it is undeniable that it has an abundance of drama. For those who have not heard this work, it goes well beyond preconceptions of 'sacred' music and grips the listener's emotions mercilessly. Of all the requiems that I have heard (and have sung as a bass chorus member) it is a personal favourite.
For years my first choice of recording was Telarc's magnificent achievement conducted by Robert Shaw, and I was ambivalent when I first saw this one as a CD. Live performances have sometimes disappointed me because of the compromise between excluding audience noise and allowing sufficient ambience. This one appeared to have solved the riddle and I had few complaints.
Later the DVD version appeared and ... Read More:

Average Rating:

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Tosca [2002] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Ruggero Raimondi, David Cangelosi, Sorin Coliban
directed by: Benoît Jacquot

October 25, 2005
Superb performances by a stellar cast are badly marred by intrusive and unneccessary insertions of rehearsal and recording shots, even worse, occasional commentary. This DVD should not be marketed as an opera production, it is a travesty, destroying the atmosphere at some of the most sublime moments, Puccini must be turning in his grave and I am appalled that the Royal Opera House allowed their excellent production to be tampered with in this way.

Average Rating:

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Waldbuhne 1996 Italian Night

starring: Angela Gheorghiu, Sergej Larin, Bryn Terfel, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Radio Choir

April 02, 2002
Superb performances by a stellar cast are badly marred by intrusive and unneccessary insertions of rehearsal and recording shots, even worse, occasional commentary. This DVD should not be marketed as an opera production, it is a travesty, destroying the atmosphere at some of the most sublime moments, Puccini must be turning in his grave and I am appalled that the Royal Opera House allowed their excellent production to be tampered with in this way.