Customer Reviews

Massenet: Thais- The Metropolitan Opera

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

<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.

The only thing I want to review is the quality of the DVD production
which is unfortunately horrible. They packed the entire opera,
all the set changes and interviews that were part of the HD broadcast
and all the bonus features onto one disc. This dramatically reduces
the quality of the video to barely better than VHS quality.
I was really looking forward to this professional release to replace
the copy I recorded at low quality from broadcast non-digital PBS a year ago
but alas this one is not better.

P.S. If you disagree with my review and you feel strongly that I'm just
wrong, please leave a comment. If I agree with your assessment I will remove
this review.

LOVE this opera. Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson are amazing. The music is so lovely. The final duet is sooo heartbreaking. The sets are nice & simple. I recommend this to everyone who wants to discover a totally underated opera.

Except for the famous "Meditation" and Mirror Scene, I was not familiar with this opera, but being a major fan of Renee Fleming, I thought I would check it out. If you do the same, you will not be disappointed! Fans of Thomas Hampson will also be pleased with his performance. This opera could just have easily been entitled "Athanael & Thais", as his role is at least equal to hers. The Met orchestra is in top form and the Meditation was played particularly well by David Chan.

I do not generally care for productions set outside the composer's intended period of history, but I did not find this distracting at all.

In short, this DVD should be added to every opera lover's collection!

Several months ago, just after the Saturday matinee radio broadcast of this performance of "Thais," I wrote a review of the Venice Opera DVD with Eva Mei in the title role. I concluded that review with a suggestion that we should wait to purchase until this production became available. I concluded that review, "Based on the broadcast, it is sure to be a winner."
I was only partially correct. Musically, this production is superb, just as the broadcast was. But, this is another of the Metropolitan's new productions which do not honor the time frame of the opera. "Thais" takes place in fourth century Egypt. The opulence of Nicias' home in Scene Two, with its long winding staircase, suggests a much later time, as does the rifle-wielding servant who greets Athaniel when he enters. Nicias, dressed in a white tuxedo shirt, tie, and vest, helps to complete the incorrect picture. The convent nuns in the final scene are dressed in habits that suggest much later than the fourth century. In total, there is a mish-mash of time periods represented in this production. I have not read anywhere what era John Cox and Paul Brown were attempting to portray; but whatever it was, it was not.
On the plus side, Renee Fleming's Thais is much more sensuous than Eva Mei's, notwithstanding the latter's nudity. And, watch Fleming's face in the final scene; nowhere else will you see such peace with oneself and with God.

It just doesn't get better than this..I have seen this opera many times since 1941 and this is the best of all..Renee is the soprano of the last century and probably this one too..

Great rendition, color and voices Camera angles are interesting and varied.
Fleming is in top form,as it should br for THAIS
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This opera is one of my favorites and Renee Fleming and Thomas Hampson bring it to life beautifully. Often, with operas, I find that I like the music much more than the story. This is one of the operas where I find the story to be as engaging as the music is beautiful.