Customer Reviews

Rossini: La Gazzetta [Blu-ray]

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4 star:		(1)
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I have over 100 opera and ballet DVD/BR's that I watch on a projected screen about 7' 8" wide and listen through a 7.1 loudspeaker setup where the left and right speakers are about 9' 6" apart. The room has sound treatments. The goal is to make the viewing experience as if I was there in a middle seat in one of the front rows.

I watched this opera buffa last night and in parts again today.
Picture is as usual very good, good lighting and brilliant colors. Plenty of stage shots, which work well with a projector.
Audio (PCM 5.1) is top notch. It startled me just after a few bars into the overture, when the first violins set in: directly out of the left surround! Whoa, I thought, is this overdoing it?
But as I listened more, it became clear what the stronger inclusion of the surrounds actually did: they created a layer of the orchestra in front and the singers on the stage behind it. In essence, it created the orchestra pit.
The recording of the voices is perfectly clear but soft enough to get the impression of this stage depth. The voices also move along as the singers move across (6 stage microphones) and it truly gives you the impression of being there. I don't think you can do it much better than this.
Andy Rose came to my mind about half a dozen times during the performance and, sure enough, he is responsible for the sound.
So from a recording standpoint, I can truly recommend this one.
As for the performance, singing, acting and dancing is quite good. I knew Spagnoli and Pratico from The Barber of Seville. I liked them there as well as here. The other principals were also fine (we can't have Netrebko in everything). All had to act quite a bit while singing and I thought they did well.
Part of the costumes could be right out of Victoria's Secrets catalog, garter belts and all. You will have to decide whether that's good or bad...

The music is typical Rossini, meaning light and tuneful, guaranteed to have your feet tapping with many good duets, trios etc. The performers obviously enjoyed themselves acting and singing in this fluffy light opera. The story is not very intellectually taxing and this is an opera to relax with and enjoy its light heartedness and silliness. Rossini was suprisingly ahead of his time with his main plot of advertising and even more so with procuring a bride as the central focus. Last night was my second attempt at viewing and it was put aside for some time as the trite storyline was an initial turnoff. So you have to be in the right mood to be non critical and go with the flow. But that is not to say it is faultless - I could do without a couple of the rather boring recitatives. Top quality video with colourful costuming and good audio.

It is no masterpiece but worth adding to the collection.

John