Customer Reviews

Bellini: Norma [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was unprepared for the presentation and was initially irritated by the opening which brings ancient Rome backstage of a modern opera house. It all looked as if I was in for another of these modern and all too often pretentious productions. (I am generally a traditionalist and prefer to see what the composer would have had in mind). I had not done any home work and had not grasped what the producer was up to. The playing and singing is however exceptional and as the disc progressed I forgot my initial dislike and came to enjoy it more and more. This is an excellent disc, but go to the extras BEFORE you watch the opera. You will then avoid my mistake and be able to follow the production so much better. This is not the traditional Norma but neither is it the dreaded 'dinner suits on an empty stage'. The blend is quite skillful and once one accepts the revised plot the disc can be fully enjoyed. My initial reaction was to send it back, I will now keep it and expect to watch it many times. Get it, it is visually and sonically outstanding.

This is that ridiculous Norma dvd from a couple of years ago, yet again. Changing the package, and the technology is not going to make it any better. Another "concept" on a masterpiece. This time we are backstage with the singers, making entrances and exits. None of it makes any sense. Norma makes her first entrance done up like Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard. What has that to do with anyting in the libretto? From there it is downhill. If the singing were great, maybe, but it isn't. Why bother. Get the Caballe Normas from Orange or Barcelona.Magnificent. When I first ordered this mess I played it several times to see if it had some redeeming factors. I sold it online for $10.00.

Patrick Byrne

The mish mash of modern and traditional costuming in this opera is very distracting and spoiled enjoyment of the opera for me. Norma in priestess robe singing to a Roman soldier in a blue striped suit, idiotic and unecessary props like modern kitchen chairs and dressing tables with photos plastered on the mirror, all seem totally unecessary for the plot. One person has sarcastically labelled this all too common trend in modern opera productions as "Eurotrash". Much as I dislike the connotation, I must admit that it applies to this production. A shame because their is some beautiful singing from Hasmic Papian and Irini Tsirakidis although not all support roles were impressive. Another peculiarity, which I noted in a couple of other Blue Ray opera productions, was an uneveness in the volume of the voices at times plus a strange echo which appeared to be in the stage as it disappeared when the curtain dropped.
For once I looked at the "extras" before viewing the main event but they failed in preparing me for the odd approach to the opera with the Druits sometimes in casual modern dress but other times dressed up in the sort of religious garb appropriate for the context of the story. In summary, perplexing and confusing.
So, overall I cannot fully recommend this disc. Like the curates egg, it is bad in parts and sadly, there are too many of these.

I have never heard so much crowd noise on any recordings and I own 6000 CDs/SACDs. The stage direction is not even close to be related to the libretto. Through 6 sittings, I managed to go through about 60% of it, but this disk is going to the garbage bin. Too bad because the vocal/orchestral interpretation is quite good.

I came to this Opera through sort of a back door. I was watching a documentary on Maria Callas. And several times he mentioned that she played Norma. Somehow I had overlooked this Opera so I thought I would catch up. This was the only version that was readily available I thought Norma is Norma is Norma.

I can see now that I made a small mistake. In general I don't like things that are in modern dress. But again I thought normal is Norma was Norma. I waited for them speak when they did I sort of wish they didn't. I have to confess I was using English subtitles. The production never got any better. It just drag on and on and on.

One day I hope to look at a different version and see what it is that Norma that makes it a classic as this version was the drag of all times.

No me entra en la cabeza que existan personas que se dicen aficionados a la Opera y no aprecien esta gran producción de Norma.

Me gustó de principio a fin. Hasmik Papian, es una Norma muy respetable, como una estupenda Adalgisa. La calidad del Blu Ray es excelente. Cómprelo y se va a dar una grata sorpresa.

Todo bien en cuanto a la imagen, pero el sonido envolvente (5.1 sorround sound doesn't exist)prometido en las especificicaciones no existe....

Bellini's Norma is set in ancient Rome, which carries druids and centurions. The struggle between love (family) and religious obligation (state) are central issues. Time and space are well defined.

In reading nutty Guy Joosten, the story takes place in the U.S. of 40 years. Nothing against the transposition of time. Many directors did it masterfully. But the buddy is lost, its reading of the work shown wrong in every way.

Standard is met with flashes, like a movie star. Transforms the story into a plot of American film cheap. Both compete for Pollione in a production of Norma (I think you get the idea). Moves the end of opera. Norma has the arms and live happily ever after with his beloved while the choir sings the sadness of his departure.

The soloist are median and lost in the confusion created by re-reading of the director. The orchestration is normal. Ridiculous costumes and scenery. The label Opus Arte always very quality, this time missed ugly.

People, Shelves in them. This deserves to be buried under the sacred tree druid

Prateleira Neles:Gravações que merecem ficar mofando na prateleira

Norma de Bellini se passa na Roma Antiga, onde circulam druidas e centuriões . A luta entre o amor (individual) e a obrigação religiosa (Estado) são questões centrais. Tempo e espaço estão bem definidos.

Na leitura amalucada de Guy Joosten, a história se passa nos EUA dos anos 40. Nada contra a transposição de tempo. Muitos diretores fizeram isso com maestria. Mas o amigão se perdeu, sua leitura da obra se mostra errada em todos os sentidos.

Norma é recebida com flashes, como se fosse uma estrela de cinema. Transforma a história em um enredo de filme americano barato. Ambas competem por Pollione em uma produção de Norma( Acho que deu pra entender).Muda-se o final de ópera. Norma acaba nos braços e viverá feliz para sempre com seu amado enquanto o coro canta a tristeza de sua partida.

Os solista são medianos e se perdem na confusão criada pela re-leitura do diretor. A orquestração é normal. Figurinos e cenários ridículos. O selo Opus Arte sempre primou pela qualidade, dessa vez errou feio.

Amigos, Prateleira Neles. Esse merece ser enterrado embaixo da árvore sagrada druida.