Customer Reviews

Rossini: Il Barbiere Di Siviglia [Blu-ray]

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

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Others have covered the musical aspects well so I will stick to the production. I think it was influenced by the Dario Fo staging Rossini - Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) / Dario Fo, Zedda, Larmore, Croft, Netherlands Opera. I wish the latter was available in blu-ray/wide screen because the commedia dell'arte was so much better done. In the Madrid production, I was also bothered by:

1. The silliness of the multi-period costumes and props (flashlights and wigs).

2. The mostly black and white visual experience until it bursts into color in the last scene. What was the point?

3. The superficial documentary. They had Flórez sitting at a piano. Can he really play? Why didn't he demonstrate how he chooses the ornaments he adds so as to conform to the harmony?

This was only the second opera blu-ray I've seen but I'll make a preliminary judgment. The visual advantage is most apparent in full stage scenes. In ordinary DVDs, individuals tend to get blurry when not viewed close up. The lossless sound, DTS-MA in this case, was slightly clearer than what you hear on recent ordinary DTS tracks.

I don't get to the opera much any more, living in Palm Springs. I told my friends if I waited long enough, technology would bring the opera to me in a form as satisfying as a live performance. After a long wait, it has happened. This blu ray's crisp video and extaordinary audio left nothing out. What you get out of this disc will depend on the equipment that you have at home, but I can't image that anyone that loves opera will not appreciate this recording. The only criticism I have is that the sound engineers did not reverse the right and left channels during the overture when the camera is on the conductor. The conductor looks to his right for the cellos and basses and the sound comes out the speaker on the other side of the scene. Also no matter what other reviewers have said, if your system is good enough, the dts-ma sound track soars over the older dts on dvd sound.
As to the performance, I've never seen and heard anything like it. I'm up there in years and have seen barbers from New York to Los Angeles, but this performance is just stellar. The music seemed somewhat different to me and was a mystery in that sense until I watched some of the bonus material. Apparently this production went back to an earlier score than is used in most performances. Also while vibrato and tremmalo are usually the province of the higher register female singers, Juan Flores does this with perfection that I have not heard in a long time.
Fantastic performance and great recording technique on one disc.

This is an impressive Spanish production with a strong singing cast and sumptuous orchestral playing. Although the sets are innovative they are highly lit and very white which makes the subtitles a little harder to read - not impossible, just a little more difficult. Yellow would have been a far better colour choice.
This is a fun opera apart from some dead moments in act one. I am unfamiliar with the singers but Maria Bayo is excellent as Rosina, despite being somewhat older than that operatic character (BluRay certainly shows up detail!). Typical Rossini with great choruses, duets etc. Recommended.

Barber of Seville is probably one of the most 'produced' opera on the Video for over 3 decades now. To compare these productions would be quite a folly, as one can see experimentation from time to time, trying to make the Opera 'feel' a little different all the time. That way, this one is no exception, except that the directors have gone overboard to make it as clumsy as possible.

The fact that it is staged in Madrid, does not mean that one has to incorporate a lot of Spanish peasantry dancing the Spanish thingies all over the place. At times I feel that there is a lot of 'loitering' around. I was, however, impressed with the sets as such and people moving it physically right from the time of the overture throughout the staging. This is probably the only redeeming factor of the newer 'innovations'. Otherwise, the 'extras' in this production are simply distracting, irrelevant and hamming it out most of the time.

Singing is just Divine. I would compare Florez with Florez himself. In the recent production of this opera in the Royal Opera House with DiDonato (in a wheel chair), Florez was not half this good. There, he took some time to warm up, his introductory Aria and the first two or three pieces were clearly shaky. Not in this production. He is fantastic throughout.

Maria Bayo, the pocket sized Rosina is better heard than seen. Oh, she has quite a charming smile all by itself, and I am sure she looks quite cute in real life when not singing. But this soprano, who has probably the BEST delivery of words and clear diction and a voice and intonation to match is no sight for sore eyes while singing. She contorts her face out of proportion (I have seen that happen in L'Elisir which she sung with Villazon last year) and makes a spectacle of herself. Of course, she is not really alone in this, but in a production that is being filmed in HD and sold in blu ray, I am afraid, it stands out quite a bit. I think the cameramen were aware of this too, and thankfully there are not too many close-ups of Bayo.

Spagnoli singing the Barber is making quite an impression as a 'Great' Barber, both here and in the ROH production. He is even better here than in the ROH again, because of the rather different tempi adopted by the conductor, Gelmetti.
It is always a pleasure to hear the other old warhorse, Raimondi as Don Basilio. Pratico as Bartolo has done as splendid a job here as he has as Dr.Dulcamara in the L'Elisir. He is the only one whose role fits the slapstick type designed in this production.

All in all, a good recording, sometimes muddy during the more animated portions involving more than 3 singers together.
One star less for the staging and dramatization, where the visual element which is so important while experiencing opera in any form makes it less satisfying to watch and have the satisfaction of having 'experienced' it in the end. I am only relieved that these guys did not try and transplant it into the 21st century as some would have been tempted to do.

I have listened to this and other operas with 5.1/7.1 surround sound for about 5 years now and I consider this Blu Ray a reference recording.
If you have 6 decent loudspeakers set up properly, you will feel you are at the performance. The soundstage is very wide and curved, for instance you will hear the flutes and clarinets halfway between the left front and the left surround speakers, yet still separated from each other. All instruments are clearly located and you feel like sitting in the middle seat of row 4.
The voices are all recorded clear as a bell and I don't think you can record them any better. They move along the stage when the singers are moving and don't come only from the center channel. I like the voices and the acting of all the principals, Spagnoli is a fine Figaro and Mayo a fine Rosina. The orchestra and the chorus are not too loud or overpowering during loud passages. Overall, outstanding sound and I guess the 24 bit sampling has something to do with it.
Picture is sharp and the video direction is also fine.
The production has some quirks, as others have pointed out, but as far as audio is concerned, you won't be disappointed.
Few recordings are as good as this one. My hat is off to Andy Rose (whom I don't know), who is listed responsible for Stereo and Surround Sound.
I wished all opera recordings sounded that good.

No need to elaborate. For Rossini's fans, this is an excellent work in every way. Don't hesitate, buy it