Product Details

• Actors: René Jacobs, Johannes Weisser, Marcos Fink, Sunhae Im, Alexandrina Pendatchanska
• Directors: Vincent Boussard, Georg Wüsbolt
• Writers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lorenzo Da Ponte
• Producers: Innsbrucker Festwochen, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden
• Format: AC-3, Classical, DTS Surround Sound, Import, Widescreen
• Language: Italian (DTS-HD 2.0), Italian (DTS-HD 5.1), English (PCM)
• Subtitles: German, English, French, Italian, Spanish
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Harmonia Mundi
• DVD Release Date: September 9, 2008
• Run Time: 226 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00176I93G
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,913 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great opera--less than great recording, September 10, 2008

By 

Warden Manford - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Don Giovanni [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

The Opus Arts series has spoiled me. Their blu-ray discs contain crisp photography and beautiful sound. This Don Giovanni harmonia mundi production has neither clear photography nor quality sound. The overture was recorded in etched sound, almost painful to the ears. The arias were recorded at a distance, as though the viewer were seated many rows from the front. Sometimes the soloist could not be heard.

All being said, Vincent Boussard's direction was exceptional, the René Jacobs musical conducting and the orchestra quite extraordinary, the operatic performers accomplished and sang in concert. whether it be a duet, a trio or a quartet. The round/oval scenery by Vincent Lemaire, though, was odd, to say the least. It seems to be in vogue to use scenery that fails to appear life-like, but somehow must be mounted on some type of movable turntable to be turned around several times. Half of the time the audience was treated to a view of the back of the scenery. Odd, indeed.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Don Giovanni production on Blu-ray, June 28, 2009

By 

Robert Noblitt (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don Giovanni [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

I was reluctant to buy this item due to W. Manford's review which faulted the audio quality. Now that I have played it, I must conclude that Manford's system was to blame. This disk has some of the best-quality audio and video I have experienced in my collection of a dozen or so blu-ray operas. The DTS-HD audio is first-rate; the orchestra and soloists can be heard clearly with excellent fidelity.

I particularly enjoyed Rene Jacobs' direction, which I believe brings us closer to Mozart's original vision. In appearance, the production is spare, but effective in communicating the essence of the story. I enjoyed all the soloists including the youthful Johannes Weisser in the title role.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very competent and enjoyable production, spoiled a little by the Commendatore, June 21, 2009

By 

Mr. John A. Coulson "Tassie Devil" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don Giovanni [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

The female cast here is very strong with a powerful performance by Malin Brystrom as Donna Anna and a delightful performance of Zerlina by Sunhae Im.
To me the male singers were let down by Allessandro Guerzoni in the role of Commendatore whose voice lacked the the commanding authority needed in the role. After a hair raising scream by Malin Brystrom in the last act, the entrance of Alessandro down the aisle of the audience towards Don Giovanni was an anti climax and waving the red curtain to simulate Giovanni's descent into hell was unconvincing. The use of red strobe lighting was an obvious omission and made this last scene less dramatic than it should have been.
Apart from that this production is most enjoyable with great acting and singing accompanied by glorious orchestral accompliment. So, recommended but with the above caveat.