Product Details

• Actors: Renée Fleming, Elizabeth Futral, Judith Forst, Rodney Gilfry, Anthony Dean Griffey
• Directors: Kirk Browning
• Writers: Philip Littell, Tennessee Williams
• Producers: Barbara Bellini Witkowski, David Horn, David McCarthy, Jac Venza, Jane Seymour
• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kultur Video
• VHS Release Date: September 28, 1999
• Run Time: 166 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000025RB9
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #220,386 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There are those who believe (whether they admit it or not) that opera is an exclusively European art whose history ended with the death of Puccini. They are, of course, entitled to this delusion, but it creates serious obstacles for a vital form of new music and it deprives opera fans of some memorable theatrical experiences. For most of the 20th century and very intensively in its last half, American composers have been transforming literary masterpieces into operas that deserve and are gradually winning a place in the repertoire with the European classics. With A Streetcar Named Desire (1998), André Previn is the latest addition to the list of these composers, with Gian Carlo Menotti, Dominick Argento, John Corigliano, Carlisle Floyd, John Harbison, William Bolcom, Mark Adamo, and others.

Previn came to classical music from a background as a jazz pianist and soundtrack composer, credentials that may raise a few eyebrows but obviously developed his sense of what works dramatically in music and a knack for regional flavor in an opera set in New Orleans. The libretto preserves the impact of the original Tennessee Williams play about the fragile Blanche DuBois (brilliantly portrayed by Renée Fleming) and the loutish Stanley Kowalski (sung with precision and a subtle sense of character by Rodney Gilfry). There are no weaknesses in the supporting cast and there are particularly fine performances by Elizabeth Futral and Anthony Dean Griffey. Previn, a world-class conductor, is of course an expert in his own music, and Kirk Browning has a convincing approach to the opera's visual elements. Highly recommended to anyone not allergic to modern opera. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the few new operas that really hit the mark., June 16, 2001

By 

J. Barry-Smith "Opera Divo" (Brisbane, Qld, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Previn - A Streetcar Named Desire / Previn, Fleming, Gilfry, San Francisco Opera (DVD)

Many, many new operas written each year. Some of them get workshopped by an opera company, and even fewer get to the stage of actually being performed in front of a paying audience. Now, if the composer has a name like Andre Previn, and the work is based on one of the twentieth centuries best know plays from one of America's most respected writers you most definitely have a head start. However, actually making all of these elements work together as a cohesive and worthwhile whole is the true challenge, and this new opera has met and exceed the expectations of that challenge. Here is a work that enhances the effect of the original rather than defacing it or 'dumbing it down'. The music is beautifully evocative of the time and place in which the drama is set, and has the huge benefit of being composed by a man who is also a jazz musican, and therefore understands that less often creates more. The libretto has been skillfully 'arranged' from the original play so that well known lines are still as they appeared in the original, but has been augmented for moments when there is more time needed to expand the original thoughts musically. The direction of Colin Graham is masterly, naturalistic and truly based on the development of each of the characters. The set is extremely clever in its simplicity, and yet still creates exactly the right claustrophobic atmosphere. And finally, the performances will be very hard to better. Renee Fleming is a singing actress of considerable stature who creates a new Blanche DuBois that is full of complexity and 'guts'. Both Elizabeth Futral and Rodney Gilfry give of their considerable best as Stella and Stanley, and also both look exactly right for the roles they play. The supporting cast are all quite exceptional and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra under the baton of the composer run the full gambit styles, making huge lush sounds when needed, and even more surprisingly, sounding truly 'jazzy' at other times. A triumph for all concerned, and a joy to experience at home.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Previn and San Fran. Opera out-Tennessee Tennessee Williams!, January 27, 2000

By 

Jack Bowyer (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Previn - A Streetcar Named Desire / Previn, Fleming, Gilfry, San Francisco Opera [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I don't know. Maybe Tennessee Williams wrote operas and just forgot the music. Phillip Littell's libretto is faithful to Williams in great detail and he has added beautiful arias for the principals in complete harmony with their characters. Previn's music weaves it all together and evokes the atmosphere of New Orleans so naturally I can't remember how the play worked without it. I saw the telecast of the SFO's world premiere and recorded it, but the video is far superior to the telecast because the editors covered all the staging problems encountered by SFO. When I first heard that SFO had commissioned an opera of 'Streetcar' I said Blanche must be played by Renee Fleming, but had no other casting ideas. Fleming was perfect alright; when she sang I could smell Blanche's perfume. I know there were Stanley Kowalskis before Rodney Gilfrey, but who were they? Then there was Elizabeth Futral. Her singing, acting and LOOK made me smell a more natural aroma of juicy Stella. She was vocally, dramatically and visually so stunning that I think I'll shut up now. American operas and especially late 20th century operas rarely make my short list but this one is very near the top. Now, who's going to compose 'The Glass Menagerie'?

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Great Disappointment, February 28, 2006

By 

James Montmarquet (Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Previn - A Streetcar Named Desire / Previn, Fleming, Gilfry, San Francisco Opera (DVD)

I am crazy about Renee Fleming, admire Tennessee Williams, and can enjoy, say, Lulu -- so why did I dislike this so? The sets and cast look great; the acting is good enough. The fault, I suppose, lies primarily with the composer: he captures some of the desperation of Blanche, but not the (faded) beauty. Apparently, he wrote this part for Renee Fleming; but, for one thing, I would like to hear it sung more softly -- with slower tempos! Maybe there is vocal beauty here that this performance fails to capture because it doesn't let the music sufficiently "breathe." Renee Fleming has a wonderful melancholy look, which her at times almost Wagnerian vocalizing belies -- Isolde, fallen on hard times.