Customer Reviews

Gounod - Romeo et Juliette / Mackerras, Alagna, Vaduva, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Charles Gounod is frequently accused by critics of being "too pretty" or "too sentimental", yet his masterpiece, Faust, is one of the most performed operas in history. Romeo is close to Faust insofar as its lyrically melodic score is concerned and when well sung and staged, is a real treat to the eyes and ears. Having seen it onstage twice, I was prepared to be critical, but also to be captured by a good performance. This is a very good performance. Alagna has enough youthfulness at this stage in his career to be a believable Romeo, and he sings the role with magnificent vocal technique as well as near perfect French. (I stopped and replayed the second act aria, "Ah! Leve- toi soleil ..." so that my significant other could enjoy it.) In fact, one of the real pleasures of this disc is the French diction of all the performers. I had never seen or heard Leontina Vaduva (Juliette) before watching this disc, but she does a great job as the teenaged heroine. Vocally, her lyric, coloratura is ideal for the role and her opening aria, "je veux vivre..." is perfectly realized. She can act, too, as evidenced by all her interactions onstage, particularly, and not at all surprising, with Romeo. Particular mention should be made of Anna Maria Panzarella in the " trousers role" of Stephano, Romeo's page. She has a fine voice and great stage presence. Maestro Mackerras coducts with respect for the emotional nature of the score. The tape to disc transfer is near perfect, as is the recorded sound. As I have noted in other reviews, the DVD medium is next best to live theatre, because the viewer sees and hears the performance, and can experience the totality of the operatic experience. So, if you are looking to see what opera is all about, or introduce older children to the genre, this performance is hard to beat, because the music is consistantly lovely, and the onstage action is ongoing. And if you are, like me, a longtime opera fan, just buy this disc, and if you don't find it enjoyable, send me an e-mail challenge to this review. The domestic cultural scene, unfortunately, sees fewer opera performances, except in major cities like New York. The DVD medium, fortunately, lets good operatic performances come to our homes. Enjoy!!

I've just ordered this DVD after watching it on PBS. I'm an opera tenor myself and not always enamored with Roberto Alagna. But he does an absolutely superb job here, and Vaduva matches and balances him perfectly. Their acting, right down to their dual deaths at the end, is natural and not contrived as many operas seem. I've heard, seen, and sung in many operas around the world, but it really doesn't get better than this!

This was a stunner in the vhs format and the dvd version only enhances what is a classic theatrical experience. Alagna and Vaduva sing and act as if they were Romeo et Juliette. The tomb scene is utterly shattering. If this scene doesn't move you, you need a heart transplant. Mackerras brings to life this great Gounod score. Alagna and Vaduva sing with ardent glory and passion, beautiful in timber, strong and yet fragile at the same time. Sets are simple and very effective. Le Reux and Lloyd must be singled out also in what is a handpicked cast. I don't think this performance will ever be surpassed. The magazine "opera Now" considered it a "classic to be" in their very powerful review. Of the top ten dvd operas now available, this is humber 1/2. Beautiful music, superbly sung and acted. This belongs in every collection.

The reason to purchase this DVD of Romeo et Juliette by Gounod is the wonderful, expressive singing of Roberto Alagna and Leontina Vaduva. Not only do they sound great, they LOOK great and act their parts sincerely and movingly. The final scene of this opera with the two doomed and dying lovers desperately reaching out for one last unobtainable kiss could "make the stones weep" in this Covent Garden performance, taped in 1994. The production is somewhat sparse but traditional, with beautiful costumes and atmosphere. Supporting singers Francois Le Roux and Robert Lloyd do a fine job, but the focus of this performance is the two lovers and Alagna and Vaduva convince you with their voices and their demeanor that they are exactly that: young and in love. Two of the many vocal highlights are Alagna's aria, "Ah, leve-toi soleil" and the ensemble that ends Act Three. Anytime the two lovers are onstage, there is operatic magic (all too rare these days). Alagna combines French style with Italian bravura and Vaduva has a voice with sweetness and vulnerablity which seems to grow in size for the dramatic and often cut Poison Aria.
This DVD comes highly recommended to lovers of great singing which too often, in present times, is cast aside for singers who "look and act the part". What a treat to have both!!!!

This "Romeo et Juliette" is the finest on video. Roberto Alagna is an absolute joy as Romeo -- not only does he look good, but he's got an amazing voice and wonderful acting ability to match. Leontina Vaduva does very well as Juliette, although it takes a little while to get used to her facial expressions.

As for content, the sets and costumes are traditional, and so is the direction. However, the death scene with melt your heart.

Don't miss this outstanding video!

With traditional sets and costumes, this video could have turned out "just another opera" but, thanks to Roberto Alagna and conductor Charles Mackerras, it is a gem.

Mackerras conducts the music with an assured yet gentle touch, and pays careful attention to what's happening on stage.

Alagna is an ideal Romeo: not only does he look young and romantic, but he sings with caressing lyricism and acts very well indeed. His interpretation of the tomb scene could melt a heart of stone.

As Juliette, Leontina Vaduva is a little tough to swallow at first, but she gets easier to handle as the opera progresses.

In conclusion, treat yourself and watch this video!

This is one of my favorites. The sets are a bit drab (I don't understand the constant blue lighting), but the performances from the singers make up for it. All of the supporting roles are well sung, but it is Romeo and Juliet that make this a production to remember.

Alagna is in fine voice -- his "Ah! leve-toi, soleil!" is magnificent. As the opera goes on, his voice can be unsteady and a bit out of tune at times, but overall this is a very good performance. His acting is also very believable, as is Vaduva's. They both look and act the part. Vaduva's voice is somewhat strained at times, but for the majority of the time she sings the part well. Together, Alagna and Vaduva are captivating to watch. The tomb scene especially will bring tears to your eyes.

The combination of Gounod's achingly beautiful music and the fine singing/acting make this a treat to experience. 4 stars.

This is a superb production, sumptuously staged and sung with passion throughout. The young Alagna sings beautifully with an exquisite sense of lyricism and dynamics. He won an Olivier award for his performance and it was well-deserved. Vaduva is a memorable Juliette: she captures the awkwardness and coltishness of an adolescent girl overcome with passion and not quite knowing how to handle it until it's too late. Their emotions are almost palpable and the final scene is truly heartwrenching. Both singers tend to veer slightly off pitch at times but hey, this is a live performance and I much prefer them to the CD versions. Francois Le Roux is a carefree, careless Mercutio and Anna Maria Panzerella gets the Wasted Mezzo award for her superb portrayal of the page Stephano. Nicolas Joel's direction never gets out line although there are some curious omissions (Romeo and Juliet don't kiss at their first meeting; Mercutio asks Romeo, 'Why did you come between us?' in the duel scene; Romeo is at the other end of the stage.). Sir Charles Mackerras gives a lyrical and passionate account of the score. We discovered this video after a thoroughly disappointing production in Cincinnati and what a wonderful antidote it was. Don't waste your time on the one hour version that was shown in 2002 on PBS with Alagna and Gheorghiu--this is the real thing.

Romeo et Juliette has always been one of my favorite operas. The leads are both perfect in their interpretation of youthful love. Roberto Alagna is in superb form and a terrific Romeo. It is a joy to behold his perfect French diction. His voice is sweet, lyrical and clear cut like most French tenors. Vaduva is an excellent Juliette. She can act, is young and beautiful, and has a wonderful coloratura. Her opening aria "Je veux Vivre..." is simply incredible! I thought her voice was perfect and her diction was right on too. They seemed to have strong chemistry. The only drawback for me was the set seemed rather sparse. The color appears drabby on dvd, but may have had to do with the production's lighting. Anyways, I give it 5 stars for Alagna and Vaduva's believable performances.

The majority of previous reviewers have pronounced this recording of Romeo et Juliette to be an excellent performance of an old fashioned opera done in an old fashioned way. They emphasize the great performances of the cast and the inspired conducting of Charle Makarras. I find their judgement accurate and only wish to confirm their verdict. I would add that to me it is one of the most satisfying of any recorded performance in my personal collection of over 300 opera DVDs. What is more, after several run throughs over a period of several months I think it to be that rarest of the rare: a perfect performance.
The characterization of Robert Alagna is as close to the adolescent youth complete with impish bravado and raging hormones as can be found anywhere. I have seen and heard Alagna in live and recorded performances in many roles and have not been a fan, but he excels here. This is a 1996 project and the sweet youthful voice is not apperant in his present day singing of which I am aware. The Juliette of Leontina Vadova is girlish insouciance that develops into deep infatuation and perhaps love. Vadova is just right for the part. She's an innocent country girl, a little plump, not an elegant princess and she acts it all very well. The four love duets with Alagna are electric music making. They play off each other very well.
In my youth I was unmoved by most French opera except for Berlioz "Les Troyens". Faust had it's moments, Massenet I found cloying but then I heard Mirella Freni and Franco Corelli in Romeo et Juliette and fell in love. I've seen and heard many productions of this opera since including the Villazon and Machaidze but nothing has come near to perfection as this present one.
I believe there is a reason for this. One can go to a local amateur performance of Brahms second symphony as I did recently and still get something out of it. It is because it is great music. Romeo et Juliette is a B list opera at best and therefore requires the magic of the interaction of just the right players in all parts, the right staging and the right conducting to bring life to a less than viable score. Gounod wrote a dozen operas of which only two survive today. One, Faust (1859) is the most played opera in the history of opera (The Metropolitan Opera of New York was nicknamed the Faustspielhaus at one time). But even it had to be reworked many times before it became popular. Romeo et Juliette (1867) was the only immediate success (a succes fou) he had with any opera though he wrote three more. In his last 12 years he wrote nothing. Yet Romeo et Juliette is loved by all. Even the great Verdi recalls the Act 4 duet of Romeo et Juliette in the beginning of the Act 1 duet in his magnificent Otello. Romeo et Juliette is weak in many places such as the pedantic music of Frere Laurent and much is open to parody, however in places the composer reaches heights he never before or after attained.