Product Details

• Actors: Cecilia Bartoli, Enzo Dara, Raúl Giménez, Alessandro Corbelli, Michele Pertusi
• Directors: Brian Large
• Writers: Charles Perrault, Jacopo Ferretti
• Producers: J.F. Mastroianni, Judy Flannery, Mona Niemiec
• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Polygram Video
• VHS Release Date: April 9, 1996
• Run Time: 159 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304028784
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,202 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, January 10, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Rossini - La Cenerentola / Campanella, Bartoli, Dara, Houston Grand Opera [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This performance of LA CENERENTOLA was taped at Houston Grand Opera in 1995. The performances marked Cecilia Bartoli's American debut, and as Angelina she completely justified all the "hype" that surrounded her at that time. She sings beautifully and acts nicely, creating a put-upon yet spunky "Cinderella." Opposite Bartoli, Raul Gimenez gives a sincere and sensationally sung Prince Ramiro. His love duet with Bartoli in Act I ("Un soave non so che") is an oasis of calm in a witty Rossinian fairy tale. The supporting cast includes Enzo Dara (Don Magnifico), Alessandro Corbelli (Dandini), and Michele Pertusi (Alidoro, the "fairy godfather"). Corbelli's Dandini has since become famous (a British critic called it one of the finest operatic characterizations of our day), and here one can see why: it is subtle, humorous, and richly sung. (Corbelli was also Dandini in 1997 Metropolitan Opera performances, one of which was telecast in 1998. His Met portrayal was very different but every bit as masterful; it's too bad that telecast is not yet commercially available.) Dara, who sings the stepfather, Magnifico, looks like Ed Wynn (of MARY POPPINS and "I Love to Laugh" fame). Although Dara's acting is very funny, he is clearly past his vocal prime -- in fact, I think I'd rather hear Ed Wynn sing the role. Young bass Pertusi, however, provides plenty of vocal freshness in his lengthy, wonderful aria, "La del ciel." The production is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen of an opera; the sets and costumes look like fanciful children's book illustrations. This is a marvelous performance that one can watch again and again -- as I certainly have!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming Cinderella tale, great Opera Introduction, January 14, 2001

By 

Little Dorrit "ldorrit" (WA state) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rossini - La Cenerentola / Campanella, Bartoli, Dara, Houston Grand Opera [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a super film of a really charming opera. Funny, and totally appealing tale with a horrid stepfather instead of stepmother, and the two customary stepsisters. Cecilia Bartoli was born to play the role, singing to perfection the difficult and beautiful Rossini music.

Great sets and stage production, and a prince to bring about the happy ending, this is a great film to introduce newbies to opera!

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great singing with a little twitching thrown in, June 20, 2004

By 

figaro "jacoba" (Eugene, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rossini - La Cenerentola (DVD)

I love this video for the singing. As a matter of fact, I would recommend it over Bartoli's Decca cd recording because the best principal singers are the same, except in this video, you get Raul Giminez as the Prince, instead of William Matteuzzi on the cd, and although Giminez' voice is a bit lighter, it's a prettier voice, and his fioratura is much more smooth and lovely. La Cenerentola is Bartoli at her finest vocally - it suits her sound and vocal style perfectly, but the acting is another matter. Bartoli is just not funny to me, plus she does alot of odd twitching and jerking that are terribly annoying.

Corbelli is great both vocally and as an actor. Giminez is enjoyable. Pertusi is fine. Dara gives me the same feeling as Bartoli - a bit too silly, but his singing is fine. There is a serious message to this opera that doesn't come across because of the ridiculousness of some of the acting and some of the costumes: The message is that 'goodness triumphs', which is the alternate title of this opera, and I personally feel this opera needs a handful of elegance and subtley (sorely lacking in this video) to convey that message in a witty way.