Customer Reviews

Prokofiev - War and Peace / Gergiev, Othotnikov, Kirov Opera

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

 

 

Many thanks to Kultur for finally making this magnificent opera available years after the VHS release was cut from the Philips Classics catalog. The Kirov production is fine ensemble work and is performed with sprit and conviction. DVD sound and picture quality are very good (this is a two-disk set, although the description does not indicate that). My only minor compaint is that I find the sets a bit too minimalistic for such a sweeping work, but that's just niggling. This is a must-see for anyone who loves Russian opera, particularly since few of us will ever get a chance to see this one live.

I hope Kultur will next bring out the wonderful Kirov production of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Sadko," which was part of the original Philips Kirov series and is also out-of-print.

Well sung, well acted and simply produced. It seems like two operas, Peace is dominated by beautiful waltzs, and is light and elegant. War is a choral adventure, very much reflecting the impact of World War II. A grand opera, the sets are minimal and don't always contribute much, but they do alow the music to dominate the DVD.

Warching this wonderful DVD makes it obvius that "War and Peace" is truly a great opera, if somewhat neglected in the west. I was fortunate to have seen it performed at the Met back in the 70's when the Bolshoi Opera visited and this Kirov production cannot compare to that. Sets here are more than sparse and much of the first act looks like it is performed in various locations of a men's locker room. But the scenery(or non scenery) works better in the second half when the stage is raised and lowered to create more interesting multi-leveled performance areas. But this disc is about the singing and the singing is wonderful. Gergiev conducts with a mastery of the score and the chorus work is magnificient. This is an opera full of national pride and you can see it on the faces of both the performers and the audience. It is also interesting to see glimpses of the inside of the Marinsky theater-a masterpiece in it's own work. This video is definitely a memorable night at the opera on all accounts.

This is an excellent production of an epic Opera. I highly recommend it.

A simple but effective production of a fine opera. The first half, Peace, is a bit more effective than the second. The opera is about World War II more than the French invasion of Russia. The actors were all effective as actors and vocally.