Product Details

• Actors: Luciano Pavarotti, Enzo Dara, Kathleen Battle, Juan Pons, Korliss Uecker
• Directors: Brian Large
• Writers: Felice Romani
• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Polygram Video
• VHS Release Date: January 19, 1993
• Run Time: 129 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302652936
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,833 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It would be hard to imagine a better performance of Donizetti's comic masterpiece. If there was one role that ideally suited Luciano Pavarotti's voice and stage personality, it was Nemorino, the impoverished and not-very-bright peasant who worships the village's prettiest and richest young woman from a distance, is swindled by a traveling vendor of "miracle" medicines, but wins her hand by dumb luck. The story has comedy, pathos, and a put-down of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde (or at least the Tristan story) written long before Wagner composed it.

Kathleen Battle is not only a wonderful singer and convincing actress; as Adina, she is pretty enough to make Nemorino's infatuation totally credible. Juan Pons struts convincingly as Belcore, Nemorino's self-important rival, and Enzo Dara is properly spectacular as Dr. Dulcamara, who sells Nemorino the magic potion guaranteed to improve his love life, or at least to get him drunk. The melodies in this opera include some of the best ever written, and James Levine, his extraordinary orchestra, and his wonderful chorus know exactly what to do with them. Everything comes together in this production to make it one of the best opera DVDs available. --Joe McLellan

Product Description

Item Name: Donizetti - L'Elisir d'Amore; Studio: Deutsche Grammophon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars L'elisir for the Ages!, May 15, 2005

By 

D. J. Edwards "donaldjedwards" (Cheshire, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Donizetti - L'Elisir d'Amore (DVD)

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!

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars it's delightful, it's delicious, July 22, 2003

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: L'Elisir D'Amore [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kathleen Battle and Luciano Pavarotti at Their Best, May 19, 2005

By 

Laura Williams (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Donizetti - L'Elisir d'Amore (DVD)

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.