Customer Reviews

Donizetti - L'Elisir d'Amore

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What a quartet! I think the Met or any other opera house will be hard put to equal this performance never mind surpass it. Pavarotti owns this role even now that he is retired. His easy, beautiful timber are recorded for the ages and we are indebted to Met-DGG for making it available. I was at this performance in a balcony box and never dared hope for its release since a previous performance with Judith Blegan has been available for some time. Battle is here in rapturous, glorious voice. An extremely beautiful timber, even from top to bottom, and every note in between. I cried as I watched the performance since it brought back the memories of seeing and hearing this so long ago. Pons and Dara are equally in their company. Pnns is excellent and to my way of thinking very underrated. Dara must still be singing Dulcamara somewhere if he is still alive. He sings this role to the very life. There is just no weakness in this production. Panni was supposed to have been the conductor for this matinee performance but he was ill and history fated us with the final link, Levine, to make this an historical performance. We have been blessed with a plethora of great DVDs from the Met [ Ernani, Manon Lescaut, Lucia to name but a few ] but the L'elisir here is probably their very best. The sets are wonderfully traditional and they work very well indeed. I left the theater numb, with a very sore throat and walked to the train talking to myself. My poor wife thought I had lost my mind. Its still under seat three in the third balcony box. This is an absolute must for your DVD shelf. The only time I've heard a more beautiful soprano in a live performance was Caballe at Chicago Lyric back around 1969 In Traviata. I certainly have heard many other superb sopranos, but I put Battle and Caballe in a special ranking. IF you don't enjoy this video you're either tone deaf, hate Donizetti or just don't like beautiful music sung as exquisitely as this Adina and Nemorino. Where are all your music lovers? There should be many more reviews here. Out of five stars this should have at least 10. Even if you disagree with me, this dvd deserves recognition and attention. Listen and buy!

This is a stupendous production, and the best I have seen of this comedic opera, with a superb cast and energetic pacing.
I'm not always thrilled with Pavarotti's acting ability, but here his Nemorino is marvelous, in what might be his most engaging performance on film; charming and tender, his "Una Furtiva Lagrima" is incredibly moving and full of beauty. Kathleen Battle is an exquisite Adina, youthful and capricious, and vocally stunning. Korliss Uecker is a lovely Giannetta, and Juan Pons excellent as Sergeant Belcore. Enzo Dara almost steals the show as a hilarious Doctor Dulcamara, with his chest full of bizarre medals. His comedic timing is right on target and his voice quite up to the demands of the role.

The sets by Beni Montresor are ingenious and effective, and the costumes are splendid, in colors that remind one of a spring garden. The camerawork is also good, and adds to the visual interest. From the orchestra pit, James Levine masterfully keeps it all together with sparkle and zest.
This 1991 live performance from the Metropolitan Opera is terrific theater, as well as a musical treat, and one to own and enjoy repeatedly.

This production of L'Elisir d'Amore is the best performance of this opera available on video and one of the very best performances of the entire Metropolitan Opera Video Catalogue. As Adina, Kathleen Battle is sensational. Her voice is sublime, glowing with a ravishingly creamy, sensuous legato. Not only does she sing with technical perfection and ease, her compelling artistry is the epitome of grace and charm. Luciano Pavarotti gives his finest performance on video in his signature role of Nemorino. This role was his own personal favorite of all his roles and it shows in the warmth and charm he brings to his portrayal and his gorgeous vocalism. Battle and Pavarotti enjoy "clowning" with each other and the audience loves it. James Levine is at his best, giving an energy and excitement that makes this Bel Canto masterpiece explode with color and sparkle.

This is probably the greatest opera production I have ever seen. The singing is first rate quality. Everyone is in fine voice and with this being an opera buffa the singers are throughly enjoying themselves. I would recommend this as an introduction to opera for anyone and for opera fans alike get this one. Mind you there are some flaws with the overall productions like Italians flags waving around when in truth Donizetti never was around for the establishing of an Italian country so that was totally out of place. (I have noticed that the Met has this annoying habit of throwing in flags of today in opera setting of centuries ago)Also there is Pavarotti wearing a green hospital band on his hand. However, this is opera and opera is about singing and I assure you that great singing is what you get in this production. Buy it!!!! WONDERFUL!!! Bravissimo!!!!

Recrded at the MET in 1991, with a star cast, this is Donizetti in a traditional production. The contribution of Kathleen Battle in particular is worth the price of this DVD, as she is every inch the character, vocally and visually. Pavarotti has a few sweaty moments, but this is his favourite role and he shows why!
A wonderful addition to the MET catalogue

O-MI-GAWD! My jaw is still on the floor after watching this amazing production of Donizetti's most frequently revived romantic comedy. The sets are rudimentary but the conductor and performers keep you too riveted to care! James Levine is not given enough credit as the Met's Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, but that would all change if all of his detractors sat down and watched this video. You can tell from the overture that this is going to be an effervescent and detailed performance. Bravo, Maestro Levine! The supporting players (Korliss Uecker as Giannetta, Enzo Dara as Dulcamara, and Juan Pons as Belcore) are all great but the true glory of this production is the teaming of Pavarotti and Battle, surely the two most coveted opera stars at the time this was filmed (1991). This video is truly a testament to the golden-voiced tenor: even when he is just going through the motions as he is here, he is heads and shoulders above his closest competitors. (His "Una furtiva lagrima" made the hairs on my arms stand on end!) Pavarotti has received a lot of flak for his alleged lack of acting skills but he turns in a wonderful performance that is, in turns, hilarious and heartrending. Once again Kathleen Battle astounds, this time as Adina. She completely inhabits the aristocrat, making a character that could be simple relatively complex. (Adina's ability for coyness and cruelty is schizophrenic and, under Ms. Battle's auspices, believable.) Her singing is, as usual, a delight to hear and only occasionally is her diction veiled in the cavernous Metropolitan. She dispenses with many interpolated high C's, D's, and one E in the second act. And they said this was a tenor show. HA! Buy this, you will NOT be sorry.

A wonderful DVD recorded in 1991

This is a live presentation at the Met of Donizetti's L'elisir d'Amore with James Levine conducting. It stars Kathleen Battle (Adina), Luciano Pavarotti (Nemorino), Jaun Pons (Belcore) and Enzo Dara (Dottore Dulcamara).

This recording has so much going for it... Let me elaborate.

The sets and props were outstanding with magnificent drop down scenery and even a revolving waterwheel. All the costumes (especially the ladies)were gorgeous, simply sumptuous. The camera work was generally well done with only a little concern in some of the duets. (in "Quanto Amore" for example, the camera tended on several occasions, to focus on only one of the singers when in fact both persons were singing)

What really separates this L'elisir for some of the others is the quality of the singing and acting; Battle, plays the perfect Adina,(coquettish and funny)then add to this the pureness to her voice, and her ability to reach some of those high notes with such apparent ease. Pons does the best Belcore I've seen or heard, and Dara does a wonderful interpretation of the charlatan buffa, Dottore Dulcamara.

However, to me, it is Pavarotti who shines throughout this night as the lovesick and downtrodden Nemorino. This is without a doubt, Pavarotti's finest acting achievement; he seemed so at ease with his character during the entire performance. And, of course, there is his voice, which was in magnificent form for this performance.

Highlight of the disc:

If there was one memorable, focal point in this night of outstanding performances it was Pavarotti's aria "Una Furtiva Lagrima"; sung with such tenderness and feeling that the enraptured audience ACTUALLY WAITED until the music finished before the thunderous applause and cheering started, so great was their respect for the mans rendering of this famous piece.

The entire performance that night seemed to be incredibly relaxed, with the cast seemly having a lot of fun on stage. Some of the camera work actually caught some of them laughing and joking with each other after their songs. The audience giving prolonged thunderous applause and ovations after nearly every song (and deservedly so,in my opinion). What at thrill it must have been to be there that night.

All in all a fabulous DVD. A must have, if your a fan of Donizetti, Battle, Pavarotti or any of the other performers of this wonderful opera with its catchy, infectious melodies.

Yes...this version of L'Elisir d'Amore is one of the most nice presentation I have ever seen of this opera.
Pavarotti and Battle are unforgetable, in their best moment of their carrear. And Levine.....always the great Levine.....don't let to have this DVD on your collection.

Originally recorded in 1992, this 2005 DVD re-release of the Kathleen Battle/Luciano Pavarotti "L'Elisir D'Amore" (The Elixir of Love) recorded live at the Met under the baton of James Levine, holds up rather well, given the dated scenery and trend toward more fit, younger performers singing romantic roles. Pavarotti was big then and he sweats up a storm when he sings. But for sheer power and enjoyment of watching a cast of talented singers at their peak, well, this DVD is eminently worth owning. The picture quality is digital, but it is taken from tape, making the clarity somewhat gauzy. But the sound quality is what may ultimately rule here - and the sound quality of this DVD is deep and rich and full, and the high point of this release, especially if you happen to be watching this production on a system equipped with an enhanced sound system. Kathleen Battle, at the height of her career, is magnificent and beautiful and when she is on stage singing, it's easy to be seduced by the wonderful, mellifluous tones that she produces. The entire cast and chorus does a superb job, making this production enjoyable. It probably doesn't hurt that Donizetti's score is easy on the ear, melodious and filled with harmony and loaded with plenty of emotion. Though dated, it is a great performance and worth owning. This review appeared at OperaOnline.us.

This is the first opera I watched because its music has been used in the movie "Match Point" by Woody Allen which I find beautiful. I always thought opera to be some kind of classy and boring stuff. I was totally blown away by the powerful voice of the actors and the everybody's enthusiasm that can be felt also from the applauses and cheers from the audience after each scene. Human voice, it is obvious from this performance, is the most beautiful musical instrument.
Despite the primitive stage and costume, this opera seems to have everything that can be found in a great movie, or in life: love, luck, and humor. It is like a no-frill bare-bone style movie, without any sound or visual effects except human voice, facial expression and body movement, but moving and entertaining none the less.