Customer Reviews

Rossini - Il barbiere di Seviglia (The Barber of Seville) / Ralf Weikert, The Metropolitan Opera [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From start to finish, this performance of Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia from the Metropolitan Opera House sparkles with comedic flair and stunning virtuoso singing. If you really want to have an excellent Barbiere from both a musical and dramatic perspective, this is one of the best performances on video. The cast is simply a delight. Leo Nucci is captured in great voice and stage presence as Figaro, one of his best roles. "Largo al Factotum" is on this performance a real show stopper, with Nucci showcasing his vocal and scenic agility, projecting the text with expression and tossing some fine high A's. During the rest of the opera Nucci is always engaging, a Figaro both intelligent and funny. Kathleen Battle is the perfect soprano Rosina. Her singing here is a real lesson on bel canto. "Una voce poco fa" is really a perfect vehicle for Battle's brilliant high notes (up to Eflat) accurate coloratura with perfect evenness between registers and and a sweet and unforced sound, never shrill or forced. These vocal wonders are displayed during the whole opera, with another showpiece at the lesson scene, "Contro un cor", which Ms Battle ends with another perfect high Eflat. To complete her portrayal Battle is also on this video young, pretty, elegant and charming. An extraordinary souvenir of Battle's career. Rockwell Blake is definitively the Rossini tenor of the twentieth century. True, his sound is not the prettier one, but his virtousity and ringing high notes are without equal. Blake sings, for the first time in the Metropolitan Opera history, the very difficult aria "Cessa di più resistere" in a stunning way. Enzo Dara almost steals the show as Don Bartolo, with his very funny portrayal and very accurate patter. "A un dottor della mia sorte" is a real gem. Ferrucio Furlanetto completes the main cast with an engaging portrayal of Don Basilio. The secondary roles are fine and the sets and costumes are very good. In summary, this video is a must for all fans of Rossini, Nucci, Battle, Blake and a great moment from the Live from the Met telecasts. And it can be great introduction to opera for kids and adults alike.

I must admit that I never liked this opera even though it is touted as being one of bel canto's finest. I always went to Donizetti or Bellini for my bel canto fixation. However, there were several arias from this opera that I really enjoyed so I decided to buy this video as I am a huge fan of Ms. Battle. I swear it was a delight to watch this entire opera from start to finish and hence because of these fine singers, Il Barbiere di Seviglia is on my top ten list. Enough words cannot be spoken or written about the great singing. EVERYONE and I do mean EVERYONE were in great form and if for some they weren't, then superlatives do not exist to therefore speak of these singers.

For fans of Ms. Battle, if you weren't please with her studio recording, THIS IS FOR YOU!(Her studio version was great but the live performance way better. It was an otherwise great set and magnificent conducting from Abbado but Placido Domingo singing Figaro entirely spoiled the entire set for me. He has no business singing the role denying a true baritone a chance of some recording legacy. He has done over 100 roles but yet he wants more. A Tenor Figaro!! Ridiculous!!!)A soprano Rosina may not have been what Rossini have wanted but he would have more than likely reconsidered after hearing Ms. Battle. Her interpretation was amazing. Her on stage movement, lithe, elegant, exudering girlish charm with teenage defiance and cunning instinct. As for the singing..... the notes poured out of her mouth as if they were intended just for her; as if they feel only Ms Battle can do them justice for they are so wonderfully executed, rich in tone and timbre. Rarely do you see singers paired so beautifully with song that you see with Ms Battle. She did not over do the coloratura as most sopranos singing the role would but when she does go for those notes, she floats up to them with such ease and beauty. Surely a voice touched by the hands of someone greater than you and I. Her diction to boot, was clear, clean and wonderfully Italianate (in my opinion) throughout even when she rolled of the coloratura. Her singing always leave even her bashers speechless. She has the vocal chops to back up her infamous diva tendencies as is quite evident here. I was clapping before the opera finished as she at the opera's finale added some what I like to call 'superfillious' notes for ornamentation. (Look for the reactions of some of her co-stars)I was almost brought to tears even though it was Il barbiere is an opera buffa. Great singing is great singing no matter who is singing. Let us not forget I bought this set for just because her name and I was not disappointed at all.

Blake was really great. His singing was on point and his handling of last act aria was wondering in Rossinian manner. However, he seemed to be competing with Ms. Battle for divo/diva supreme of the night as he continually sung out to the audience instead of to the characters on stage.(Kathleen of course had the final word on that respect as always) However, I can't blame him for trying because everyone, as mentioned before was in great voice so it was only left to try and get the most applause. Nucci was amazing. I have heard many renditions of this aria as it is quite popular and he is by far the best. His characterization was excellent and he really seemed to be enjoying his performance as does everyone else. The Dr. Bartolo of Enzo Dara was great as well too. He seem to have a special gift of rolling off these fast lines and retain the true comic element. Look for him and Battle in L'elisir d'amore, another great performance. Don Basilio played up his character to the hilt. I think the Met or any place else would be hardpress to put together an even more stellar case than this one. The other singers were wonderful, absolutely wonderful.

The only drawback to this set is the fact that it is on VHS and as VCR are almost obsolete not many would get to enjoy this set. I envy those who attended this performance as it would have been an experience never to forget. If you find it someone get it. Hopefully DG realizes soon that there is money to be made from getting this performance on DVD.

This is one of the best operas I have ever seen. Kathleen Battle is a spectacular opera singer and plays her part very well. This may not seem like such a big deal, but considering that I am only sixteen and not a fan of the opera, you get to see my point. It's not like other boring operas that my mother used to watch when I was little, but one that actually tells a story and grabs one's attention. It's one of those kind of videos that is pleasing to watch with the family time after time. So if you're into operas, especially good operas, this is the one to get.

I own practically every Barbiere on DVD or BD. A very few are bad, many are good, some have exceptional performers, but this one is perfect, from Weikert to the last chorus member staring motionlessly at Don Bartolo in the glorious sextet of Act I! The overture is brilliantly filmed, sound and picture in the best possible match. Leo Nucci is dominant when in scene, with his tremendous fortissimo and a beautifully sounding instrument throughout the entire range. He matches Ms Battle in everywhere, not least in "Dunque io son" which is some feat. Best Figaro I've ever seen or heard. What more can one say about Miss Battle? Her performance here strikes for the absolute beauty of her sound. Never heard that final very short solo of Rosina the way she does it. It looks deceptively easy, but everyone loses power throughout! Not Miss Battle, who just gows from strength to strength. Enough has been said about "Una voce poco fa" and the music lesson. You can believe the other guys, it is all true. Enzo Dara, whose performances I have enjoyed before, especially his Houston Don Magnifico is also fabulous. His acting is a joy to watch and his basso-baritono buffo is probably the best around. Blake does well throughout but very well in "Cessa di piu resistere". The memorable one is Juan Diego Flores in Madrid, which is obviously matchless. Furlanetto does well in "la calunia", but better in his unwanted appearance after the music lesson.

If you already own any Barbiere, get this one! If you don't, get this one, then a couple more to realise what you have. If you never heard an opera in your life, get this one for starters. If you hate opera, get this one, you will be converted!

I wanted to give this Barber 5 stars, but, based on the performance of Enzo Dara I just can't! He does his own, tired "schtick" which I guess HE feels is funny, but I find unfunny and annoying and draws attention to itself and is not based on the drama or the situation! He can't really sing the role either. He chops up "A un dottor" by not singing the sustained notes above the staff. The patter is fast but so what? I have seen him in other Rossini roles and heard him on CD, and I am always left unsatisfied. Thank God the Met gave the latest Barber production to John del Carlo. A buffo who sings with voice and acts withour becoming a characature.

Blake sings beautifully with clean coloratura and inexhaustible breath, Nucci is a delight and handles the recit with great understanding, and Battle, before she became so mannered, sings and acts with great charm and security. Furlanetto is a tower of strength and rich basso tone.

When you have got eleven recordings of Barber in CD, plus two DVDs, it is difficult to be astonished by another recording. This new DVD, though old recording, did astonish me, not only because of the singing (that I expected it had to be phenomenal as I had previously enjoyed the voices of the entire main cast in excellent recordings), but because of the realism of the acting and funny performance of Dara, who could make me laugh in one opera that I know by heart and I've seen several times on live stage. You must know that in this era of bitter sit comedy and cruel humor cartoons, it's difficult to laugh or even smile at the simpler and predictable humor of 19th century's operas. I don't want to compare this one with other productions, but only I would like to point that I like this one more that the mechanical one of Hampe (with Bartoli), and in some parts are less funny that the same Cox production under Cambreling baton. For instance, Furlanetto, who sings in both video recordings is more tenebrous in Covent Garden staging than in his Met Basiio, but Dara surpasses in comedy to Desderi, as he played the pills-addict Bartolo without a drop of clownery. I think Nucci was in his prime, because his voice sounded powerful, agile and gentle to the ears. Battle made a more innocent Rosina, and Blake, more suited to drama, redeems his awkward timbre with a impeccable bel canto technique. The recitatives are some times severely cut, which is not too convenient to a stage recording, but it is compensated with more music as it included the rarely performed aria of Il Conte, Cessa di piu resistere, near the end of the opera.

I am very happy with this purchase, just waiting the release of Armida, which was an effort of Gelb to bring more Rossini to the current leading Opera House in DVD releases, the Met.

This masterpiece of Rossini is performed with so much care and excellence, that it gives enjoyment from beginning to the end.
It is sung and performed so perfectly by not so wellknown singers, however all were successful to reflect the comedy side of this opera buffa.
Leo Nucci is maybe the only one already quite known and perform so marvellously displaying the prankish character of the barber Figaro. His singing and performance in this opera is better than in his other performances, really perfect and beautiful and made the whole opera so enjoyable. Kathleen Battle, sung so brilliantly in her clear coloratura voice and in appearance quite matched the character of the mischievous young and beautiful Rosina. While Rockwell Blake as the young and romantic Lindoro/Count Almaviva in his appearance quite match the character of the romantic young count who is pursuing Rosina. His singing is not quite mature yet, however match the clear coloratura voice of Kathleen Battle, so that all their duetts sound so beautifully together. We also adore Enzo Dara's performance which represent the real comedy in the foolish old ward of Rosina, who yearned to marry the young and beautiful girl. Last but not the least is Ferruccio Furlanetto's brilliant performance with his deep Bass baritone voice reflecting the sloppy and sinister music master.
The costumes and background set were also as beautiful and prepared with great care which supported the performance itself.
In overall, the performance is totally enchanting and marvellous that we will not become tired of playing it over and over again, while relishing to the romantic comedy and beautiful music.

Based on the other reviews I was really looking forward to this. I don't know what the other reviewers were comparing this to, but based on my viewing experience, this rates near the bottom of the heap.

Rockwell Blake as the Conte has a strained, forced voice and acting style which I found totally lacking in charm. Leo Nucci as Figaro, suffers in close-up, showing his age. I think if I had been 40 rows back at a live performance I would have enjoyed him more. But in close-up he does not exhibit the youthful exhuberance I expect from this role. Ferruccio Furlanetto is way too heavy for the comic, lightness and absurdity expected for Basillio, rendering his "slander" song too ponderous and dense.

On the good side, the stagecraft is complex and sumptuous in the best tradition of a Met production. Kathleen Battle has a lightness and spontanaity that I found delightful in much contrast to the other principals. I felt she was sadly wasted in this strained, ponderous production.

I give this 3* rather than 2* because the picture and sound quality were quite good.

This is such a wonderful and rare performance featuring a soprano Rosina instead of the usual matronly mezzos. And we get Kathleen Battle in the role!!! When, when, when are they going to release this on DVD??????

This one of my favorite recorded performances of this opera. Kathleen Battle sparkles. Leo Nucci is a joy. In some ways, the production values represent the last gasp of the former production quality of the masterpieces at the Metropolitan Opera.