Customer Reviews

Forza Del Destino [VHS]

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

 

 

Since the listing above is not very clear, let me start by telling you that the item I'm reviewing is the Hardy Classics DVD of Verdi's opera "La Forza del Destino." This is a 1958 Italian telecast from the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, starring Renata Tebaldi, Franco Corelli, Ettore Bastianini, Boris Christoff and Renato Capecchi. For knowledgeable opera lovers, the cast listing above will be recommendation enough. To everyone else, let me say that this is some of the greatest singing you're ever likely to hear.

The picture is black and white, the sound is monaural and the scenery doesn't look all that great, but you're not going to care. These singers convey the drama with their voices (as well as with their movements and expressions), and their singing makes everything about this production wonderful.

Hardy Classics has done a great job of restoring this video; the picture and sound are clear (although there are some unimportant visual flaws). I have seen this performance before, on video tapes that don't look or sound this good.

Get this one while you can. Also, check out other Hardy Classics opera DVDs of Otello, Il Trovatore and (especially)Rigoletto. All of them feature performances by important singers who are no longer active and all of them are sufficiently well restored that sound and picture quality are not significant problems.

I have always loved Tebaldi. In fact, I bought the CD edition of this first before the video. Much to my dismay, the audio on the video is MUCH better than the CD. Live and learn, but you don't have to.Forza is a huge opera. Everything has to click. Believe me, I've done hunting for many performances of this opera and this is definetely the BEST. Including Callas, Price, et.al. Corelli has no trouble at all, Bastianini has no equal in this role, and Tebali is devastating in this opera.Granted, you will have to overlook the video defects, scratches and shadows, but the audio is great and because the performances are so red-hot, these few defects will quickly fade into memory. What can I say, all six voices are at their peak and there will never be another production of "La Forza del Destino" like this one. Never. A MUST have. Anything you will ever buy in the future will pale.

I said the same about Tebaldi's Forza highlights CD: I have always been suspicious of those who are fanatic followers of a Diva. The way they go on and on about the mystic transports and technical perfection; it can become so tiresome. And yet, Tebaldi has cast that very spell over me. It is almost inpossible to give an objective opinion about her after seeing this video.

The picture quality is just awful, and most of the time, it's just as well, given the not-exactly-first-rate quality of the production. The sound is boxy and thin, as you'd expect from such a recording from the 50's.

However, this just makes the performance all the more impressive. The vocal triumphs of not just Tebaldi, but also of Corelli and Bastianini shine through in spite of the recording quality, and for heaven's sake, don't let the technical shortcomings prevent you from buying this tape. You owe it to yourself to experience a erformance like this.

Tebaldi is amazing- her hands tend to assume some stock opera positions, but the face- so beautiful and so expressive in spite of the horrible picture quality. She was in top form that night- her voice fearlessly taking all high notes with no difficulty, and as is so often the case with her, the things that are the usual highlights are certainly wonderful, but she works miracles with other material that most singers throw away.

The sudden dimenuendo in the ascending phrase of her first scene solo left me breathless, as did another unbelievable diminuendo just before the return of the "pieta signor" solo in Scene 3. How, you ask yourself, does she do that? A magnificent voice combined with impossible technical mastery, and all so heartbreakingly moving- stunning, brilliant- how many more superlatives can one use?

I've been Tebaldi fan since 1958. I heard Tebaldi many times on radio in this role. I had heard she always does better in performance with audience. This tape proves that. While the quality of the tape itself is "bumpy" in places, the Tebaldi pianissimo is worth it. Ravishing! Of particular beauty are; " Son Giunta..", "La Virgine degli'angeli..", and Pace, Pace mio Dio.." It is sung in Italian with no subtitles. It is spellbinding regardless. Worth purchasing, if for no other reason than one of the greatest casts of the time. The audio is surprisingly luxuriant. A collector's item, definitely!

This is really unbelievable and incredable what is going on on this video tape. It's not just names that really matters. What matters is how these outstanding singers are performing and acting. I don't know to whom address at first. I guess, I start with Renata Tebaldi. She was known as Callas's greatest rival and this performance explains it why. As dramatic soprano, Leonora's role siuts to Tebaldi's voice to perfection. The only other soprano who can be compared to Tebaldi is Leontyne Price. Nobody gets even closer to these two. But Tebaldi has even advantage over Price: she is defenitely better in duets than Price used to be. When I've been watching and listening to the duet from the first act, tears came out from my eyes. Only one phrase: "Alvaro, Io t'amo" is sung with such impression and with such sadness in eyes and in voice that it's truly difficult to discribe in words. The second act duet with Christoff Tebaldi is really like an angle searching for the place of God. These is incredable. Franco Corelli...what can I say? From the first notes as he appears: "A per sempre..." in the first act, it is clear that he would triumph that night and he did. His voice is incredable and here Franco is at his peak. So brilliant at the high notes and what a perfect performance of "La vita il ferno..." in the second act. Ettore Bastianini is my favourite baritone forever and here his is splendid, his voice is full, his singing and acting is perfect. And he never falls behind in the duets with Franco Corelli. Boris Christoff - I've never heard such a strong bass performance in my life. Duet with Leonora and then his "Maledizione" is terryfing and makes you cry once again. I can review this video forever. this is top class, must have and really the best opera performance ever existing on the video tape. I have many recordings. None is even closer to this. This recording made me love "La forza" even more than I loved it.

Beware - once you have seen this performance of Forza Del Destino, you will never, never be satisfied with any other version. This is, simply, the best of the best. Once you get past the absolutely hilarious stage sets and Franco Corelli's hairnet, you will be completely mesmerized by this Forza. There will never be singers like this again. I would advise listening to it (just turn off the TV picture) at least once a week for the rest of your life. I have the CD as well, and prefer the sound on the video. Each of the stars is unsurpassed in this performance but Corelli's Alvaro (to me at least) is what brings it all together.) All of Corelli's Forza's (indeed all of his singing) is superb, but this is the jewel in his crown. The only reason to take one tiny point from one star is that the "sleale" scene is omitted.