Product Details

• Actors: Piero Cappuccilli, Nicola Martinucci, Sergio Bertocchi, Aldo Bramante, Sylvia Sass
• Directors: Brian Large
• Writers: Dante Alighieri, Didier Gold, Giovacchino Forzano, Giuseppe Adami
• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Subtitles: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kultur Video
• VHS Release Date: May 25, 1999
• Run Time: 160 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0769720374
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,917 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Puccini's trio of one-act operas is carefully balanced to contrast three moods: dark, violent jealousy in Il Tabarro, tearful sentimentality in Suor Angelica, and satirical wit in Gianni Schicchi. All three flavors are precisely conveyed by La Scala's carefully chosen cast, with finely nuanced conducting by Gianandrea Gavazzeni.

This production is particularly treasurable because most companies today avoid presenting all three pieces together, and the interaction of contrasting motifs is part of what Puccini had in mind. Gianni Schicchi is deservedly the most popular, and La Scala fills the stage with vivid character performers to convey its full flavor. Juan Pons sings the title role with fine comic flair and rich, flexibly used tone. Sylvia Sass heads a small, expert cast in Il Tabarro, which could, however, have been more convincing in the murder scene. Suor Angelica is sweetly distraught, as it should be. --Joe McLellan

Product Description

Puccini's Il Trittico consists of three one-act operas, each satisfying of itself, yet skillfully contrasted to make up a thrilling complete program. The chilling melodrama of Il Tabarro (The Cloak), the sentiment of Suor Angelica and the wit and brilliance of Gianna Schicchi are matched with the genius which has made La Boheme, Madama Butterfly and Tosca such established favourites.

In this live recording from Milan's legendary Teatro alla Scala, Piero Cappuccilli is the vindictive Michele in Il Tabarro, British soprano Rosalind Plowright sings the title role in Suor Angelica, and Juan Pons portrays the artful Giana Schicchi in Puccini's only comedy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great acting, singing, production..., February 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Puccini - Il Trittico (Il Tabarro / Suor Angelica / Gianni Schicchi) / Gavazzeni, La Scala [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a beautiful production of Puccini's trio of short, one-act operas. Most underrated, and most impressive here, is the first piece, IL TABARRO, starring Piero Cappuccilli and legendary soprano/actress Sylvia Sass, both of whom perform with a high level of intensity, passion, tenderness and complexity. The music is gorgeous and fascinating, with some wonderful duets that come organically out of the story. Watch how the light gradually gets dimmer and dimmer as the opera progresses and as the story gets darker and darker.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars YES and NO, August 20, 2004

By 

Retired Opera Singer (Washington DC Area) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Puccini - Il Trittico (Il Tabarro / Suor Angelica / Gianni Schicchi) / Gavazzeni, La Scala (DVD)

I have always loved this threesome, though I also consider Schicchi the weakest of all Puccini works. It is great to have it available to see as well as to listen to. After many years of singing opera for a living, I know that I may tend to be a little "jaded". So, as brief as possible: the singing in these performances is really quite good and I will not try to compare with so many better on audio only! That said: The real drawback of this is the staging and acting - did I say act and opera in the same sentence? Tabarro goes along fine until the "murder and revelation". It makes "opera" look as stilted as we know it can be. I know only too well how difficult it is to sing high C and attempt to act, but this was filmed. Sour Angelica - beautifully sung, even if Plowright has a "different" voice for this role and lacks the top notes requied. I simply do not know what that visual ending was suppose to be. I watched this DVD, for the first time, with a novice who had gotten the full build-up from me: only to be befuddled at the end. Sometimes I think that the old fashioned ,statue turns revealing "live" Madonna and a child, is better, not high tech, but effective. This DVD is worth buying because it is the only way to hear and see these works that no longer seem to be in favor and to show others that there is more to the Trittico than just "O mia Babino caro"!

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bravi!, April 16, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Puccini - Il Trittico (Il Tabarro / Suor Angelica / Gianni Schicchi) / Gavazzeni, La Scala (DVD)

Il Trittico di Puccini is a delight! IL TABARRO, though not a favorite of this opera devotee, is very well done here. I'm sure Puccini would be pleased with the acting and singing, especially of Cappuccilli and Sass. If there is a disappointment with the trio of little operas, it is Rosalind Plowright as SUOR ANGELICA. This is not a role for the usually splendid Plowright. It was quite a surprise to hear her take alternative low notes to the scored high ones, especially following the dramatic "Senza Mama, Bimbo." One expects to hear high Cs and D flats to be sung as written. The costumer is also faulted for a very sloppy headdress! That is inexculable! The compensation might be that the on-screen translation is quite good. GIANNI SCHICCHI is great fun! Juan Pons shone in the title role as the conniving Gianni! Surprising was the clever performance of dramatic mezzo-soprano Eleanora Jankovic Always to be counted on is the fine musicianship and understanding of Maestro Gianandrea Gavazzeni. Superior performances are part and parcel of the Chorus and Orchestrs of La Scala, Milano. They did not let any of us down with these three. Directing opera for Video requires an extraordinary talent! Brian Large has learned that craft well! For those who rate these three so low, the same who have given bad reviews to other great performances, I cannot help but wonder if theirs is a faulty piece of equipment. No reviewer worth his salt expects to gain total agreement. However, no one wants his artistic tastes to be demeaned. G.K. Brown, DMA Prof. of Music (Ret.)