Customer Reviews

Mozart - Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A studio production, shot on film for German television. Subtitles are provided in various languages: the English one is useful and accurate, though inevitably some of Da Ponte's nuances are lost. The image is crisp and pleasing (unlike the flatly-lit, saturated Ponnelle "Carmina Burana"). The sound hardly betrays its age: a relief after the ragged sound on the Losey "Don Giovanni" DVD. The recitatives have a drier acoustic -- recorded on set, perhaps? The singers are all on top form, and near ideal. (Maria Ewing as Cherubino makes a convincing adolescent boy, even in close-up.) Böhm knows how to point every aspect of this wondrously varied score. Basilio and Marcellina lose their Act 4 arias. Ponnelle's direction shows insight, imagination and meticulous planning. There is only one serious miscalculation, when he has the Count strike the Countess in the Act 2 finale. The production as a whole is funny and exuberant and serious and clever (hints of the imminent revolution are not labored) and never vulgar. A feast for the eyes, the ears, and the mind.

and a true dearth in opera presentations today to realize how ingenious Jean Pierre Ponnelle was. DG can be thanked for reissuing this lively film version of Mozart's classic with energy, excitement, dramatic tension and comedy, all without distorting Mozart or DaPonte's intentions or presenting a lot of whack-a-mole comedy or confusing "updating". Nonetheless, this is far from a stand-up-and-sing traditional staging. The direction brings an abundance of clarity to the plot and situations (aka, the Act Two finale). The singers taking part were just as dedicated to the drama as the music, a true ensemble performance, where no individual was doing a "star turn". It can be argued that this film version is not truthful to a true staged operatic presentation, and I can see the point of that argument. I feel Ponnelle's film can be enjoyed on its own as a unique entertainment, and I think you will too.

This is surely the best performance of Figaro available on video. The cast is just about perfect for it's time or even considering those who perform it today very successfully. The Glyndebourne production is also excellent, however, the lushness of the sets and costumes enhance this performance over the other. Fleming is a great countess but so was Kiri! Looking at either of them, you wonder how they could have settled for a dolt like the Count! Highly recommend this verion as one of the very, if not the very best available. You will watch this many times! Great music sung by a great cast! What more could you want? Considering what is on TV these days - build your video collection and you won't be sorry!!! This one is full of fun!

What a romp! This version of "Marriage of Figaro" has managed the unthinkable: I now believe that Figaro is Mozart's greatest opera, not "Don Giovanni" -- believe me, this took work! Prey is absolutely magnificent, handling both ends of the wide musical range of this role extremely well. His acting was wonderful, which was not at all unusual in this production. Maria Ewing is an adorable Cherubino and Freni is absolutely wonderful as the earthy and fun Susanna. Te Kanawa is a bit stiff, but it is only noticeable here and there -- partially because the other pricipals seem so at ease in their roles. DFD as the count (apparently his signature role from what I've read...) is impeccable. Add to all of this wonderful acting and singing a beautifully filmed setting, and you have bliss!

I am familiar with Jean-Pierre Ponelle from 2 other DVD releases: Rossini's THE BARBER OF SEVILLE (Claudio Abbado/La Scala Orchestra, with Hermann Prey, Luigi Alva, Teresa Berganza, Enzo Dara, Paolo Montarsalo, Stefania Malagu, Hans Kraemer - DG, 1972); and Verdi's RIGOLETTO (Ingvar Wixell, Luciano Pavarotti, with Riccardo Chailly/Vienna Philharmonic - Decca, 1983) and was interested to try his version of Mozart's great comic opera, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. Considering this had a star line up of great singers: Hermann Prey, Mirelli Freni, Kiri Te Kanawa, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Paolo Montarsalo, Maria Ewing, Janet Perry, Hans Kraemer, with Karl Bohm/Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, I didn't see how I could go wrong. I was NOT disappointed: this DVD has everything: wonderful stereo sound (remastered for surround sound systems), singing, staging, and special effects. Mozart's music is well served, and all the singers have great acting skills in addition to being terrific singers.

Some tempos are slightly slower than one might hear in an opera house or audio only studio version, but that only adds to the excitement and intensity of the music. Add in also the fact that the 4 principals in 1976: Prey, Freni, Te Kanawa, Fischer-Dieskau, are handsome/beautiful (as the case may be) + great singers. They express so well what is being sung, and Ponelle's concept to have them singing as if in thought (especially in two of Te Kanawa's arias) is very effective. (The aria - singer's voice - is heard, but the singer's mouth does not move.)

I am no authority on Mozart operas, opera staging, or even the music, but some of the arias have been familiar to me for over 30 years. I just know I enjoyed this alot: try to sit still and not march around the room when Hermann Prey launches into "Non piu andrai.." which ends Act I! Mozart packed alot of great tunes into FIGARO, accounting for it's great popularlity 220 years after it was composed.

This was loads of fun to watch, and will offer much pleasure in future viewings.

I was asked once, what example of man's achievements on earth would you propose to an alien visitor in order to enlighten the species? I replied 'The Complete Works of Mozart.......but that would be boasting'! It is with the same confidence that I can recommend this video. I loved the cinematic approach which greatly enhanced the drama and comedy in equal measure. The cast is the very best one could have assembled in a single production and Maria Ewing's Cherubino is disturbingly captivating. Visually it is stunning yet it is the sound which dominates. Karl Bohm and the Vienna Philharmonic are perhaps the very finest Mozartians. The music, both powerful and heartrending, is brilliantly played the libretto exquisitely sung and all superbly recorded.
It is the most treasured in my collection and I would recommend it to novice or expert. I just wish it was available on DVD........ at least that wouldn't wear out?

A great rendition of Mozart's best opera. Deitrich & Kiri blend together perfectly as Count and Countess, however, the set acoustics aren't too good, and the Cheribuno (Maria Ewig) isn't at all convincing. Mirella Freni makes a good Susanna, and Herrman Prey, the perfect Figaro. All round, it's a good performance, with only a few hiccups. Just unfortunate about the acting with voice over...Te Kanawa was suffering a nervous breakdown at the time and couldn't sing too well, so that's the reason.

This 1976 Le Nozze film is a delight. I've watched it over and over. Prey is a comical, fun-loving Figaro, Mirella Freni a cute Susanna, though not dramatic - and Te Kanawa, as always, the perfect Countess - though a very young Te Kanawa, and her voice is alot different to her rich full voice now, and her acting style has changed alot. She's alot lighter, but still fits in perfectly - The best singer of the whole cast. Fischer-Dieskau is the perfect Count, and blends well with his Countess! Ewig is a good Cheribuno, though not perfect at acting like a teenage boy, and is not totally convincing. She's sweet though, and her 'Voi che sapete' is very moving. All round, a really riveting production, will keep you on the edge of your seat :)

Let's cut to the chase: you will not find a finer sung Figaro (either on CD or DVD) than this one. Cast is idiomatic. Bohm and the Vienna Phil are also superlative. Now to the bone of contention: the opera is filmed as a film (like Zefirelli's Traviata; Ponelle's Rigoletto, etc.). For some "purists" (or "fogies" --your choice of terms, but functionally the same), if an opera production doesn't look like it's been filmed from the 10th row, it's not an opera. If I want to see a stilted, single perspective view of an opera, I'll go to the real thing. Yes, as the Amazon reviewer notes, there are a couple of scenes in which the singers don't move their lips (to represent thinking); that "egregious sin"
is far outweighed by the breadth of scenery, the attention to detail, and the action allowed by a moving camera with multiple, real backdrops. Bravo Ponnelle!

I bought another version of this opera but I felt strange because I was missing the voices I was used to (from the metropopolitan video: essential opera). I could not bear it any more and I had to get this version that I consider to be very best. I love the voice of Maria Edwing (Cherubino)and also the voice of Mirella Freni (susana).