Product Details

• Actors: Ruggero Raimondi, Mara Bayo, Juan Diego Flrez, Bruno Pratic, Pietro Spagnoli
• Directors: ngel Luis Ramrez
• Format: Classical, Color
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, German
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Decca
• DVD Release Date: November 18, 2008
• Run Time: 167 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001CZVVWI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,999 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #16 in Movies & TV > Blu-ray > Performing Arts
  • #52 in Movies & TV > Blu-ray > Special Interests

Editorial Reviews

Juan Diego Flórez in his greatest role shines in this sparkling production. With an image up to six times sharper than conventional DVD and superior high-definition sound, Blu-Ray lets you watch opera and ballet performances from the front row of the theater. Experience every detail, no matter how small, in the highest quality possible. With five times the memory of standard DVDs, Blu-Ray is a completely new way to experience the theater at home.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning Production on All Levels, February 7, 2009

By 

Brian Wrangham (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rossini: Il Barbiere Di Siviglia [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

This production is a joy to behold. The singing (especially that of Juan Diego Fiorez and Maria Bayo) is topnotch all the way through and the musical direction under Gianluigi Gelmetti leaves nothing to be desired. For me, the stunning picture and DTS Master Audio sound track make this one of the best high-definition discs I have bought to date. The camera work is exemplary and ranks among the best to date as far as an opera is concerned -- it ranks with that of the English video director, Brian Large, one of the best in the world for many years.
I have two minor criticisms however - one concerns the staging and the other, the English subtitles. The staging is a little bizarre at times and tends to create confusion for the viewer and also distracts from what is happening on stage. In one scene in particular the entire stage rises, revealing more chorus on the lower level - this, I feel, is one of the few mismanaged scenes in the production. Regarding the subtitles, they become practically impossible to read in many spots, especially when they are overlaid on a light as opposed to a dark scene. The subtitles definitely need to be adjusted for much greater readability.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Wide-Screen Production, November 14, 2008

By 

C. Fischer (Bloomington, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rossini: Il Barbiere Di Siviglia [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

Amazon's current listing of the aspect ratio as 1.33:1 is INCORRECT. Like all Blu-Ray productions (that aren't of classic films) Decca's new opera productions on Blu-Ray are 16:9 (or 1.85:1) and anamorphic (according to Ken of the Decca Music Group.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Staggering Tour-de-Force, February 7, 2009

By 

Russell Low "Russell_L" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rossini: Il Barbiere Di Siviglia [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

This Blu-ray of Rossini's most popular opera is brilliant in every way: imaginative production, exuberant acting, buoyant conducting, and above all, stupendous singing, particularly from star tenor Juan Diego Florez, who steals the show whenever he's on stage (which is a lot of the time). The stagecraft is inventive and always eye-catching--I loved the concept of going from near-monochrome at the beginning to blazing color at the end. The singing is on a high level all around, and the ensemble work (extremely important in this opera) is pitch-perfect. Oddly enough, baritone Pietro Spagnoli as Figaro has his weakest moment in 'Largo al factotum' (one of opera's most famous arias), which is a slight disappointment, but he gets stronger as the opera goes on, and his effervescent charm is a delight throughout. As Bartolo, Bruno Pratico plays up the buffo aspects of his role to terrific effect. Maria Bayo's sweet, slender voice makes for a beguiling Rosina. And what more to say of Juan Diego Florez? His peformance is simply jaw-droppingly sensational here, easily showing why he's the leading bel canto tenor today (and perhaps of all time). His performance alone is reason enough to acquire this disc.

The picture quality of this disc (1080i/60) is vivid and sharp--one of the very best I've seen on this format--and the stereo PCM audio track is full and well-defined. (I didn't listen to the DTS-MA track.) Together with Decca's equally sensational Blu-ray of 'Carmen', these make an auspicious hi-def debut for the label. More, please!