Customer Reviews

Cecilia & Bryn at Glyndebourne: Arias & Duets [HD DVD]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'd first seen this performance on CBC TV(Canada) in 2001 and immediately knew I was watching something special.

On this DVD one gets to see and hear not only two great virtuosos in what must be their absolute singing prime, but also two incredible actors who obvious absolutely love what they are doing: And if that wasn't enough you get to listen to a magnificent orchestra who has a conductor (Myung-Whun Chung)with impeccable timing. Also the camera work and film editing is wonderfully done (Brian Large): just the right facial expression, just the right cut to the next camera for the most appropriate view: just the right angle to see the cello player come in on a certain note to accompanying the vocalist.

I would like to add that this has, without a doubt, become my favorite opera DVD: and Donizetti's "Quanto amore" from the Elixer of Love is my favorite piece. Although there are several others that are truly wonderful ("madamina", "La ci darem la mano" and "Pa-pa-pa" just to mention a few)
It is the definitive mix of Singer-Conductor-Orchestra blending together to become an indivisible, single entity.

This performance is magic, just magic! What a thrill it must have been to have witnessed live; Too bad there wasn't more.

This excellent DVD preserves a recent Glyndebourne concert which was nothing short of sensational. Both Cecilia Bartoli and Bryn Terfel are here in their absolute vocal primes, sing material admirably chosen to show their beautiful voices to full advantage, and reveal in their engaging, spirited interplay considerable comic acting skill. The burly, gruff-looking Terfel is the greater surprise in this regard not only because of his unexpectedly witty, highly apt facial expressions but owing to his wonderfully funny, though always consistently graceful, movement on stage. Bartoli is already widely known for her skill in acting opera's comic minxes, and happily she matches Terfel in their duets, also bringing each of her beautifully sung characters to telling dramatic life. Yet Bartoli herself too is ultimately something of a revelation. Though technically a mezzo, her extraordinary skills in negotiating the perilous fioritura demands of 18th and early 19th century roles show us, I suspect, the reason why her illustrious predecessor, Maria Malibran, a mezzo always praised for rousing audiences to the wildest excitement by the brilliance of her ornamentation, was deemed second to nobody when compared with those presumably-to- be-preferred, great high sopranos of the bel canto period.

When two of the brightest young opera stars of the era, together with a sympathetic conductor and an orchestra of the front rank, join together for a concert of operatic excerpts one hopes that the event will spark performances that are in some way truly special. Well here is as fine a document of just such an evening as you are likely to find. The sequence from 'Le nozze di Figaro' at the start of the programme shows just how at ease all of the performers are with each other. Bartoli and Terfel 'semi-stage' the scene in and around the orchestra, with conductor Chung even becoming part of the action momentarily. Both singers sets sparks off each other throughout the rest of the programme, the duet from 'Il Barbiere di Sivilgia' being for me the highlight, even though I doubt whether Terfel will ever essay the role of Figaro in Rossini's opera. Each makes one slight misjudgement in chosing repertoire, Bartoli with 'Bel raggio lusinghier' which is not really comfortably within her admittedly wide vocal range, and Terfel with 'Arm, arm ye brave' which just seems to sit strangely with the rest of the programme; yet both pieces receive bravura performances. Glyndebourne's smallish theatre creates a warm glow of intimacy around the proceedings, and as I intimated earlier the London Philharmonic play fabulously well, especially the many and varied wind soloists. Bravi tutti!! I only wish that the programme had been longer, this wonderful DVD certainly left me wanting more.

Since I got this DVD a week ago, I have watched it at least once a day, & I love it more with each viewing. I was already a fan of Bartoli, but now am an even bigger fan of Terfel's! The charisma, skill & subtlety he demonstrates in this performance are only equaled by the beauty of his voice. Figaro's rage at the Count's scheming, the comic turn of the catalog aria from Don Giovanni, the heroism of "Arm, Arm ye Brave" from Judas Maccabeus...all are given life with seemingly effortless precision by this talented Welsh artist. All this, and Cecilia too!! A must see!!! A must own!!!!!

Bravo!
I've owned the "Cecilia and Bryn" CD since it came out and had hoped to somehow see them performing the duets live. Well, here it is and it's much better than I imagined. The flirtatious play between these two is honest and brings a sparkling character to their music. The "Figaro" suite will bring a smile as will the duet from "Elixer."
The film crew did a great job of giving us a prime seat to a wonderful concert. The sound is superb and of course the voices are unequaled. I hope this is just one of many colaborations between these great artists.

I'm not a fan of Bartoli and bought this based on the review here by other fans and because I love Terfel. Enjoyed the CD and the DVD of course is better as the interaction is very entertaining and makes the concert much more meaningful. I did enjoy this very much and feel Terfel is a master performer bringing Bartoli up a notch. I agree with the other reviewers. A must have in any collection! It wasn't long enough is my only complaint.

The Glyndebourne audience were obviously enjoying this recital tremendously, and so would viewers of this DVD.
The two singers were in their absolute prime and they sang with such prowess and committment that are at once moving and entertaining.
It is much better watching the singers sing than just listening to them - both of them possess such marvellous pyrotechniques that it really explains why 'seeing is believing'.
Ms. Bartoli has for long been one of my favourite singers. Her mezzo voice is rich and glorious. In this DVD, she lets us know how she manoeuvres her coloraturas. The trills and tremolos are all breathtaking, if only one cavil - she seldom, if ever, sustains the top notes in pianissimo, but instead with her stupendous breath jerks them out in bravura passages, with the result of shrillness that would not be at all pleasing to the ears.
Bryn demonstrates once more what an intelligent performer he is in recitals. His bubbling sense of humour plus his stage presence complements his vocal fireworks to near perfection. Here is evident again that his voice 'opens' up more fully in the later stages of his performance. It may well be a matter of habitual breath control - late warming up. No big deal in an opera performance. In this duet recital, the problem is only marginally discernible.
Oh, yes, I fully agree that the Donizetti duet is the cream of this exciting performance.

I'd first seen this performance on CBC TV(Canada) in 2001 and immediately knew I was watching something special. Having purchased and just watched the DVD two things become abundantly clear. First, it's even better than I remembered and second, this recording makes it so obviously clear how much more an excellent DVD gives the viewer, compared to an equally excellent, but visually lacking, CD.
On this DVD one gets to see and hear not only two great virtuosos in what must be their absolute singing prime, but also two incredible actors who obvious absolutely love what they are doing: And if that wasn't enough you get to listen to a magnificent orchestra who has a conductor with impeccable timing. Also the photography is wonderfully done: just the right facial expression, just the right cut to the next camera for the most appropriate view: just the right angle to see the cello player come in on a certain note to accompanying the vocalist. Magic, just magic! Too bad there wasn't more.
Appendage Oct/2002
Since my original review of this DVD in Jan 2002 I would like to add that this has, without a doubt, become my favorite opera DVD: and Donizetti's "Quanto amore" from the Elixer of Love is my favorite piece. Although there are several others that are truly wonderful ("madamina", "La ci darem la mano" and "Pa-pa-pa" just to mention a few)
It is the definitive perfect mix of Singer-Conductor-Orchestra acting as a living breathing entity.
What a thrill it must have been to have witnessed this performance live.

I first saw this concert broadcast in HDTV on the local cable outlet as part of its Friday night classical music series (since canceled, more's the pity) and immediately recorded it on my HD-DVR. When that failed, I bought the DVD (in SD, not HD).

This is a fabulous concert, with Bartoli and Terfel exhibiting mountains of style, personality, and virtuosity as they have a great time with the material. The concert was first released on DVD just before their 1998 appearance in the roles of Figaro and Susanna at the Met, and this concert's version of Le Nozze's opening duets through "Se vuol ballare" is IMHO much better than the staged version I saw on PBS (it was strangely dull, like Terfel's Don Giovanni there). But on the concert stage at Glyndebourne the interplay between Figaro and Susanna is a joy to behold; likewise the pair's charming "La ci darem." I personally love DaPonte's recitative text, and it was great to hear just as it should be dramatically stated. Terfel's Catalog Aria shows that he may be more suited to the cynical role of Leporello than that of the suave Don, though the Handel aria is more bluster.

Bartoli is an acknowledged mistress of Rossini roles, and even though I'm not a big fan of the composer, watching and hearing her could easily win me over.

This is a great disc to have in your collection, to see the young Terfel and the mature Bartoli give a masterful lesson on how Baroque and Classical music should be performed and enjoyed, by singer and audience alike.

If you enjoy the singing of Bryn Terfel and Cecilia Bartoli, then this dvd is a must for your collection! It is only a 90 minute concert but it is a superb collaboration between these 2 gifted singers. There are only 10 selections, 4 of which are by Mozart and the rest include songs and arias from Rossini, Haydn, Handel, and Donizetti. Cecilia Bartoli (perhaps second only to Marilyn Horne in the greatest-ever mezzo-soprano category) is magnificent in these selections. And Bryn Terfel is superb particularly in the Handel "Arm, arm ye brave". Also The London Philharmonic under the direction of Myung-Whun Chung perform well with these 2 wonderful vocalists.