Product Details

• Actors: Doris Soffel, Robert Gambill, Günter von Kannen, Enric Serra, Nuccia Focile
• Directors: Claus Viller
• Writers: Angelo Anelli
• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: Italian (PCM Stereo)
• Subtitles: English, French, Japanese
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Arthaus Musik
• DVD Release Date: February 20, 2001
• Run Time: 149 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000056PPF
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,156 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Rossini - L'Italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) / Weikert, Soffel, Kannen, Gambill, Schwetzinger Festspiele" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another pearl from Schwetzinger, June 13, 2001

By 

J. Barry-Smith "Opera Divo" (Brisbane, Qld, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rossini - L'Italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) / Weikert, Soffel, Kannen, Gambill, Schwetzinger Festspiele (DVD)

The series of operas from the Schwetzinger Festival being released on the ARTHAUS label is proving to be a series of pearls, and this production is no exception. From the opening bars of the overture the RSO Stuttgart and the conductor Ralf Weikert play with such energy and warmth they sound as though they have all just returned from a holiday in southern Italy. The direction, as always with Michael Hampe, has the advantage of always keeping the action moving and has some truly inspired moments, especially the hilarious Finale of Act 1. Each of the singers has been chosen not only for their singing, but also for their acting, suitability for their role and their ability to be a member of a true ensemble. Doris Soffel truly shines as Isabella (this was 1987, pre Cecelia Bartoli), Robert Gambill is a Rossini tenor blessed with great beauty of tone and flexibility which is only slightly marred some pushing at the extreme top of his range, and Enric Serra is a baritone with the everything it takes to make Taddeo both humorous and yet strangely appealing. Gunther von Kannen is truly fabulous as Mustafa in terms of tone colour and his inspired, yet not over the top, comic acting, it is therefore a great shame that his voice is just not flexible enough to cope with the coloratura demands of the role. His uncredited side-kick is a hoot as well - but you'll have to buy this one to find out what I mean. Do yourself a favour! This DVD is a real winner that I dare you not to enjoy.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the best Rossini DVD available, August 25, 2001

By 

David (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rossini - L'Italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) / Weikert, Soffel, Kannen, Gambill, Schwetzinger Festspiele (DVD)

L'Italiana in Algeri is Rossini at his very best. First performed in Venice in 1813 when Rossini was but 21 years old, this most enchanting opera buffa soon took Europe by storm. Arthaus offers a production conducted by Ralf Weikert that captures magnificently the hilarity and madness of Rossini's first comic masterpiece. The singers and orchestra are magnificent, as are the costumes, sets and props--the live monkey adds a most comical touch! Watching the act 1 finale alone is worth the price of this DVD. Without doubt this would be a terrific first opera for the opera curioius, especially for anyone thinking that opera is always tragic and deadly serious. This production is a real treat, and only gets better with repeated viewings. A bubbling performance all around!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny with decent singing, December 25, 2005

By 

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

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rossini - L'Italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) / Weikert, Soffel, Kannen, Gambill, Schwetzinger Festspiele (DVD)

This is a pretty nice video of this opera. There is only one real disappointment: The Mustafa has very little coloratura capabilities. His voice is a pleasant deep bass. The other singers all do fine with the coloratura requirements. The Isabella has a strong edgy mezzo with nicely blended registers. The Lindoro has a nice bright sound with easy high notes. The Taddeo and Haly have pleasant voices. The Elvira has a strong bright edgy soprano. The sets are nice with realistic looking ocean in the background. The costumes are nice. My only qualm about the directing is the little guy dressed in a chimpanzee costume supposedly as a pet of the Mustafa - seemed a little distracting. All in all, this is a good representation of the opera, notwithstanding some of the Mustafa's singing.