Customer Reviews

Giordano - Andrea Chenier / Jose Carreras, Eva Marton, Piero Cappuccilli, Silvana Mazzieri, Riccardo Chailly, La Scala Opera

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

 

 

I'm a huge Domingo fan, and own both his "Chenier" DVDs: the Covent Garden production with Tomowa-Sintov and the Vienna Opera production with Benackova. Neither is ideal, with Domingo not at his best in one and the soprano a bust in the other. I was beginning to think that a truly great "Chenier" might not exist -- until now. This LaScala performance is nothing short of electryifying. Most of the credit has to go to Carreras, who gives one of the finest performances I have ever seen, either in or out of an opera house. Carreras' work has never really been on my radar (I know him mostly from The Three Tenors and his later career), so this interpretation was a surprise -- and a revelation. Not only is the sound incredible, but his passion and commitment to every moment are simply extraordinary. For his performance alone you should snatch up this DVD. Luckily, there are other major compensations. Marton, although a bit more Amazon than delicate young French girl, sings with equal passion and beauty, and her acting is superb. (When was the last time you saw an opera singer shed actual tears?) Cappuccilli, who gives a stunning performance on the Vienna DVD, is not quite as wonderful here. This was a few years later, and the sound was a little drier, a little more patchy. But he warms up considerably in Act 3, giving a solid, old-fashioned, powerhouse performance. The crowd goes wild, with good reason. (I do abhor his tendency, however, prevalent in the Vienna DVD as well, to milk the applause, smile at the audience and wink at the conductor. Talk about old school!) The production itself is lavish and very attractive, and it's all masterfully conducted by Riccardo Chailly. Bottom line: If you can only afford one "Chenier" on DVD, this is the one to get, no ifs, ands or buts. Sorry, Placido.

This performance is absolutely wonderful, although I confess that I prefer to LISTEN to it without WATCHING it. The singers are top-notch, as is the orchestra. But, it is something of a distraction to see Eva Marton cast as Maddalena, and Jose Carreras as her "leading man." I don't mean to be cruel by this, but Jose is a little on the short side and Eva a little too large. Plus, the stage props are somewhat distracting at times. Thus, I just LISTEN to the wonderful music and performances on this DVD. I should mention that Piero Cappuccilli is also great in this performance--his 2-minute audience ovation in Act III is evidence of this.

Over the years, I have sat spellbound and amazed by incredible performances by the likes of Frank Langella, Anita Morris, Patti LuPone, Judd Hirsch, Diahann Carroll and even Patrick Cassidy on Broadway, and have been mesmerized by stellar, live performances of Aida and Nabucco in the San Francisco Opera House, but I don't remember ever being so completely transported by wonderful singing on my own big screen television than I was as I watched the wonderful performance captured on this DVD. Jose Carreras was astounding and Eva Marton and Peiro Cappuccilli were in top form for this nearly flawless opera.

For more than 3 decades I have owned and enjoyed my cassette tape boxed set of The Met production with Domingo, Scotto, Milnes and Levine. The music simply transports one to a higher plain. Finally, an Andrea Chenier worth watching on DVD! Thank you La Scala!

I did watch "andrea chenier" on tv longtime ago and obviously it wasn't this one here.It was okay.Now in this year 2006 of our lord J.C,the first impression i had is that this piece of art need to be update(rework or an adaptation en francais s.v.p with subtitle in whatever language).Why??? How would you feel if you hear the "star spangled banner" being sung in another language that is not english? The french revolution looks like the glorification of hate and envy.Guillotine means "suicide" at first sight.
Forget about the singing it does not really matter when la liberte,l'egalite and l'amour are being falsified.Who cares?.. They should sing at least La marseillaise. My friends,we have cattle all around the world but you deal with the legend of the cow-boys in southwest usa and they don't speak swahili.
Ciao Giordano!!!Mama mia gonna miss you! I don't think so.After all he is the one who started and snobbery,my friends! That the bottom line.Is still going to be here.Worth watching??? Learning by experience..grr...grr...Boiling over;I'm out!..