Customer Reviews

Giacomo Meyerbeer - Dinorah, ou le pardon de Ploermel / Philippe, Arapian, Mazzota, Vignon, Opdebeeck, Jourdan, Théâtre Impérial de Compiègne [Collection ''L'Opéra français'']

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

 

 

I have been an opera fan for as long as I can remember and I know what I like and what I don't. Meyerbeer's music has always managed to touch me and reach deep into my soul. Dinorah especially, and I have been waiting for many years for a production of this wonderful opera to appear on Video/DVD. I have the complete recording made by Opera Rara (1979) with Deborah Cook as Dinorah; Christian du Plessis as Hoël and John Alexander as Corentin. This performance has Isabelle Philippe; Armand Arapian & Frédéric Mazzotta as the protagonists. Whilst they are not up to the caliber for the former cast, they are each in their own special way believable and give strong performances. Dinorah's "Shadow Song", stops the show (as one would expect).
Mozzotta's performance is brilliant acting wise and Arapian does make an excellent Hoël. The staging and costumes are exquisite, almost like the original production. I should mention that this is NO modern production, thank God, as I am against the modernization of classical operas.
The orchestral playing is first class as is the photography and sound, Dolby 2.0 only.
This is the only available production of this most under-performed work and I urge you to purchase it; you will not be disappointed. My only gripe is that Kultur recordings give you nothing in the form of notes or background on any of their productions. So you have to research the piece yourself. All you get is a sheet with the chapters on it, but then I suppose we should be grateful that they actually record these unknown operas for us.

On the basis of this rarely produced opera and the few others that are in regular production, it is easy to see why Meyerbeer was a titan of 19th Century opera. This company under the direction of Jourdan is excellent in showing the score to greatest advantage. Each of the three key roles is acted and sung almost to perfection, supporting players and the chorus also do a fine job, the sets quite suitably synchronize with the libretto, and nobody shows disdain for the awkwardness of the plot. The plot, what can one say about it, a rustic folk-tale that comes out of the romantic simple is wise school so popular when it was written. What a fine vehicle for transformation by a modernist into something which will reach a contemporary audience, the music will bear the load, if only put to work appropriately.
Despite my reservations, I would urge anyone who will not be put off by the plot,to get hold of a copy so as to enjoy these acting singers make the most of sometime beautiful, sometime funny, sometime romantic, music.

I had some doubts about this one, but I needn't have. This opera is entertaining, as I assume it was meant to be. It is well performed. Sets and costumes are extremely good, and it's fun to watch and listen to. The sound and picture quality are good. If you like Lakme or like listening to French ballet music of the time, you'll like this

If there were more recordings of this opera, this one would deserve at least one less star, but since there aren't, and this is the most wonderful music, I highly recommend to anyone who has a reasonable interest in Meyerbeer to get a copy of this.

The plot begins as a sort of fantasaical, pastoral tragedy which is resolved happily by the end. It's kind of a nutty plot with comedic overtones and very little serious drama, but it's the music and the singing that are so compelling, so I will dispense with an explanation of the plot.

The sets and costumes are quaint and in my opinion work well, although some might wish for a more modern styling.

Now the singing: The Dinorah is absolutely fantastic, and also very cute. The Hoel, a baritone, is a pleasant singer but has some obvious troubles at the very top. The main tenor was very enjoyable to me but he does have a somewhat unusual huskiness to the voice, which some might not like. There is a deep mezzo (or alto) who appears in the middle of the opera and gets one aria and she is fantastic. There is a baritone and a tenor who appear out of nowhere towards the end of the opera; each get one aria and both are very good. There is also a reasonable amount of singing from the other shepherdesses in chorus, with occasional duet and solo singing by these women.

There are quite a few terrific ensembles in this opera and musically, it moves along nicely with very little dull spots - basically, one great tune after another. I was pleased to recognize one tune that Dinorah sings which I have a recording of with Maria Callas. I have played this dvd quite a few times already as an audio recording after having watched it. Meyerbeer is just terrific. Highly recommended.

I only have to say that to apreciate this opera you have to have the right amount of imagination, religiosity and musical taste.It is an opera that is necesary to know french to understand really,with the religious overtones.It is a tale of the eternal fight between the desire of riches to solve things against the simple and pure love.This beatiful tale maybe will be out of tune with the cynic thinkers,but people with good feelings will know how to apreciate the moral: you can repent of having done bad things and get pardon.With respect to the singers,Isabelle Phillippe is splendid, easy with her coloratura gem, "Ombre legere",but the dramatic singing is by Hoel, performed very well by Armand Arapian, and the comic and simple is done by Monsieur Mazzota, with a voice that is perfect for this kind of character.The ballet,with those lovely goats, and comprimarios,specially the shepperds,done in travesti roles, excellent.When you feel the little jewell done by Meyerbeer,you can understand the long ovation at the end.I cried, maybe i am out of tune with this world,but i prefer it so, and to be in tune with operas like this one.One last thing, some years later Georges Bizet will give us The belle fille de Perth,another tale of love gone wrong and madness by the bride,to be saved to the last moment by a ruse.And other opera to not miss.

The men's music is totally tuneless. The extended Shadow Song (unlike the abbreviated version on anthologies) is glorious. The women's music is pretty. Shallow but interesting plotwise. Repetitious. Well done and beautiful production. If you like this opera (I don't, and Meyerbeer is a hero of mine), then I guess you'll like this DVD. A bit too coy, provincial, pastoral and religious for me. Did not understand the interminable ovation at the end. SOMEbody liked it. I've seen it twice. Had it on Opera Rara but gave it away a long time ago. Had it on DVD (same production) over a year ago and gave that away too. But something drew me back. Ambivalent. Will keep this copy.