Product Details

• Actors: Renee Fleming, Thomas Hampson, Michael Schade, Alain Vernhes, Jesus Lopez-Cobos
• Directors: John Cox
• Format: AC-3, Classical, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, German, Spanish
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Decca
• DVD Release Date: January 26, 2010
• Run Time: 146 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002Y5FKZ4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,158 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Massenet: Thais- The Metropolitan Opera" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Renée Fleming triumphs as the glamorous courtesan Thaïs in Massenet's romantic tragedy set in fourth century Alexandria and the Egyptian desert. The timeless struggle between earthly desire and spiritual redemption finally destroys the resolve of the monk Athanaël (Thomas Hampson), just as the newly penitent Thaïs ascends heavenward. BONUS FEATURE: Interviews by Plácido Domingo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Thaïs available on DVD!, March 3, 2010

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J. Plank "massenetique" (Sacramento, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Massenet: Thais- The Metropolitan Opera (DVD)

While I agree with some of the comments in other reviews regarding the production (ie. why is Nicias' guard brandishing a gun when it's supposed to be the 4th century?) and the picture quality (it's fine, but could have been better if split across 2 DVDs or had a blu-ray version been made available). That being said, you are not going to find a better sounding, better performed Thaïs either live or on video in this generation. Renee Fleming is simply ravishing as Thaïs and Thomas Hampson is arresting in his portrayal of Athanaël, even if the role is perhaps a bit heavy for him (if only Sherrill Milnes was still in his prime!). Jesus Lopez-Cobos conducts with astounding sensitivity in a pitch-perfect interpretation which does not suffer from any of the loginess you often come across with conductors unaware of how to deal with Massenet. The tempos are consistently right-on and Cobos winds the velvet strains of Massenet's finest score around his little finger, with the help of the best opera orchestra in the world, of course. If you love Massenet, as I do, you will treasure this performance and watch it over and over again -- and if you're not sure about Massenet, this DVD will make you a believer and you'll wonder why he still isn't recognized as one of the greatest composers of all time.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Currently the Clear Winner, January 30, 2010

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DDD (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Massenet: Thais- The Metropolitan Opera (DVD)

There are only two other DVD's of Thais in the current catalogue. There may be others in the future, but it is highly unlikely that they (it) will unseat the position that this Met production enjoys. That is not to say that it is perfect. Indeed almost any production of a French opera is in a quandry because of the lack of French singers and the ability to project the text as only a French trained singer can do. The recent Carmen managed to meet this problem head on and do a very good job of. Of course Carmen is a masterpiece and Thais while highly enjoyable and ranking almost with Manon and Werther is a more fragile work.

Aside from the fact that neither lead is French my main bone of contention with the DVD is the very generic production. Fourth century Hellenic Egypt! Not even close. Why in heaven's name was Nicias wearing a white bow tie and white vest and what looked like a thirties lounging robe. This is nit picking, but even so it is glaring because he never changes his costume. Fleming is a diva and I suppose is entitled to all the perks that attend to the position. Her costumes are no more evocative of the setting than those of Nicias, especially her Act I costume. Only those of Hampson's are apt. Fleming's were designed for her and probably cost a lot of money; they are somewhat glitzy and I can't imagine any other opera that would find them acceptable.

What is more important are the singers up to the job, something that previous productions were only able to do with marginal success. Leaving aside French style, both Fleming and Hampson deliver the goods. Renee still has a top that allows her to negotiate the difficult passages without strain. She sings the two high D's in the finale with ease. It is almost incredible to realize that at her age (very ungallant of me to even bring this up)she not only looks far younger than she is, but sings as well as she does--and may she continue to. Dramatically she may skate over the role but to anyone who can sing this role after the wretched attempts of Frittoli and Mei I couldn't care less. Ideally Anathael should be sung by a more heroic baritone than Hampson, but he is such a canny artist and with many years behind him he is able to manage not only this role but a number of others that one would not associate with his lyric baritone. Think Amfortas, Macbeth, Mandryka, et.al. Ideally my Anathael would be sung by Michel Dens, but France is not delivering this kind of singer, so I am more than happy to have an artist of the distinction of Hampson. Nicias is almost a thankless role and Schade performs it well.

Supporting the opera is one of the great opera orchestras in the world and a conductor, though Spanish is at one with the Massenet idiom. We are lucky to have this DVD.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better Than Others, February 8, 2010

By 

Mark E. Herriott "Mark" (North Bend, WA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Massenet: Thais- The Metropolitan Opera (DVD)

<Spoiler Alert> There is no ballet in this production. You would think that if a company was going to commit a production to DVD, that they would do a full length production. Unfortunately the ballets are often cut. In this case, only the La Chameuse portion is presented. I've never found that particular piece very interesting. The production itself is pleasant. However, I think they could have spared the viewers the behind the scenes set changes. Seeing the sets dismantled and reassembled only serves to destroy the momentum of the story itself. The time period itself is obscure. Its definately not Egypt in the 4th century, but more likely in the late 1800's, during the Ottoman rule. That said, it was a pleasant prodution and far superior to either of the other two currently available.