Customer Reviews

Puccini - Manon Lescaut / Levine, Scotto, Domingo, Metropolitan Opera [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to see Renata Scotto live in the theatre, but I am told that she is an excellent singing actress. Witness that for yourself in this magnificent production of one of my favourite Puccini operas. When Scotto is on stage you can't take your eyes off her, and watch her face at the end of Act III as DeGrieux pleads with the Captain to let him join her on board ship - what an amazing actress she is. She makes you laugh, she makes you cry - what more can you ask for? There is a chemistry between her and Domingo that inspires him to give one of the greatest perfomances I have ever seen from him (and yes I was at his Covent Garden Otello in front of the late Princess of Wales). The other principals are excellent, but this is an opera about two people, and they carry it off to perfection. The production is near perfect and the Met Orchestra give a faultless perfomance. I urge you to buy this DVD at once - you will see and hear no better.

A suberb production well worth the preserving. The audio is specatular. Domingo and Scotto are stunning. I've never heard this sung better! The only disappointing feature is the spottiness of the video. Most of the time it is acceptable, but there are intermittent periods of "ghosting" where the video is indistinct. While distracting to the viewer, its effect on the overall performance does not diminish the impact of a vocally wonderful performance. I hope this there will be more DVD's of some of these Met performances that truly rate as classics. I have many of these on Laser Disc and hope that the Dolby 5.1 will add to my enjoyment.

Good Performances, Good Music and Production spoiled by the quality of the DVD. This production was described as "A Manon Lescaut of fluid movement", I have never come across a DVD with such jerky movement, in addition there were numerous irritating pauses, the lips of the singers were continuously out of sync with the sound (remeniscent of movies where the sound was added later). Never having encountered this before I assumed the problem was with my player but after trying the same disc in another player with the same result, I conclude that the problem is the disc. I found myself so irritated by this that after the first Act I turned the picture off and listened only to the sound.

Anyone who buys this DVD should do so only with the proviso that they can return the disc if these problems occur.

This Manon caught Scotto in superb voice with drama and credibility in abundance. The word ravishlingly beautiful comes to mind in regards to her piano and forte notes. I wonder if she ever surpassed this performanace: a performance in every way simply overwhelming. I don't think her famous Barbaroli "Butterfly" is as great at this.I have not seen her "Francesca da Rimini" but it can't be better than this. Then again Zandonai is no Puccini. But that cast is as great as this one! Domingo is superb, piano and forte and acting-wise he is equally on par with Scotto. He owns Act III and she owns Act IV and they magnificently share the first two. Elvira is also wonderful, beautiful in tone and his acting too is very moving. He is an underated baritone for sure. This DVD is a vocal feast in every good sense of the word. The sets are beautiful and finally, Levine and the Met orchestra are as always magnificent and on this occasion drawn to greater heights by the great singing on stage. Overall a must have. Anyone who came late in Scotto's career must see and hear this to appreciate what the clamor was all about. In this performance she lives up to and beyond all the fuss that accompanied her performances. She like Domingo are committed artists in every role they sing. There should be special oscars and grammys for opera performances like this. They don't come along too often. If this doesn't become an Amazon.com big seller something is wrong somewhere.

Here's a wonderful performance of Manon Lescaut. The Met's lavish production is complemented by the most wonderful singing I have ever heard from Renata Scotto & Placido Domingo. Scotto's voice nearly at her best is sung with the most passionate drama quite rare these days. Well recommended!

This is my favorite opera production. I consider it to be one of the greatest ever (as did Domingo). Occasionally there is a camera problem, but it's minor. This is a sexy opera and the stars give it right back to us. Yes, I prefer Freni (my goddess) than Scotto, but Scotto makes up her vocal shrillness with her incredible acting. This is a must see for Manon lovers and I can't wait to see it next year live at Seattle Opera.
Enjoy, friends!

The singing is great, with Scotto at top. Scotto acts as I've never seen her before and Domingo isn't bad in that either. Levine's orchestral work is the best of his that I've heard. The camera work is excellent too, with almost flawless composition.

But what sets this opera apart is the passion and emotion binding these elements and its principals together, rendering it much more than the sum of its parts.

Yes, I thought that in Act I they hadn't really gotten into yet, I wouldn't have minded a bit more lushness from the orchestra, and the VHS sound is definitely no CD, but no matter for a performance like this.

I have recently been on a "Manon Lescaut" kick--having watched this
version of the opera, the Kiri/Domingo version, and the recent Met
production starring Karita Mattila.
I watched Renata Scotto in this dvd of the opera last night and just
loved it! She was a WONDERFUL Manon--the entire Act II was especially
enjoyable, as was Act IV. Scotto is a great actress, as well as having
a beautiful voice, and she seemed to really sink her teeth into the part.
For me, this performance was equal, though different, from the Kiri Te Kanawa "Manon Lescaut". It is true, Kiri and Placido Domingo had lots
of chemistry! They are awesome together. That is a hard performance to
top. But Renata Scotto's portrayal was so much fun, I think I enjoyed it
just as much. Maybe the Kiri version is slightly more romantic.
(I would mention that for me the Mattila/Giordani MET performance was
sadly disappointing. No sparks there. And some less than shimmering
vocals as well, at times.)
I highly recommend this Renata Scotto "Manon Lescaut". You will love the
singing, the passionate performances of all the singers, even the beautiful sets and costumes. All perfection.

The singing and sound on this dvd are generally very good, but they should have done something to clean up the video quality.

This is well done and I have had in my collection for years along with Domingo and Kiri in Covent Garden production. I love them both but prefer Covent Garden just a little over this one due to the chemistry of Domingo and TeKanawa who's singing is better than Scotto's as she was beginning to dim vocally. However, the two productions are so different that they are both required for any opera collection. Domingo fans will just love him in what he used to say was his "favorite role". I recommend both versions!