Customer Reviews

Saint-Saens - Samson et Dalila / Rudel, Domingo, Verrett, San Francisco Opera

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

 

 

This production (one of the only - if not the only available on VHS at the present) would warrant five stars considering Domingo and Verrett's performances alone.

However, there are times in this performance when the SF Opera Chorus' performance is sloppy....I think mostly due to Maestro Rudel's EXTREMELY fast tempi (particularly in Act 1) which defy musical common sense and at times actually destroy the beauty of Saint Saens' gorgeous choral writing.

One can only wonder - since this production was filmed for "Great Performances" in 1981 - if the maestro was under pressure from the PBS network to bring the length of the show in at under 120 minutes. There are also several short "cuts" in the chorus parts to make Act 3 shorter...which is disturbing if you know the show by heart.

The tempi "settle down" in Act 2 allowing Shirley Verrett to shine. BRAVA!

Domingo is powerful throughout and is especially Brilliant in the beginning of Act 3 - the scene at the millstone. Add this video to your collection for this 8 minutes sequence alone! BRAVO!

I would love to see this released in a letterbox "widescreen" version so you could see more of the beautiful sets, costumes and the stunning SIZE of this show....rather than the constant camera framing of the principals. Still, the sound is good quality and picture is clear in this presentation.

1981 seems like a long time ago. While the performances by the principals is fantastic, other artistic considerations leave something to be desired from this production. San Fransisco Opera is such a fantastic opera house today with such a fine chorus that I can't help but feel that a new production of one of my favorite operas -available on VHS/DVD - is overdue.

I've loved this opera for many years and purchased this on VHS and laser disc. I agree with the other reviewer as to the cast being superb but the chorus and conducting under par and perhaps because it was broadcast on PBS. Those were the days when you could see an opera on PBS! Domingo and Verrett are magnificent and since there aren't alot of productions to choose from, this is certainly worth the price to add to your collection.

I had seen this production years ago on PBS and its every bit as fantastic as I remember it. Placido Domingo was still at his vocal best here, which was not the case with his farewell performance in Samson et Dalila with the Metropolitan Opera. Some people see opera purely in terms of the singers. I see opera as a total package, singers, costumes and sets. I feel cheated when I pay good money and get stylized sets..or no sets at all. This production has all of the aforementioned characteristics. I only wished the film crew had pulled back a little further during many of the scenes so one could really enjoy the full effect of the production. If you go for opulent sets and costumes, check out the Metropolitan Opera production of Turandot with Domingo and Marton. I never really cared for that opera until I saw the Met's production and now I love it.

I have read with disbelief some of the negative reviews of this opera. I can tell you with honesty that this is one of my favorite videos. Domingo sings fabulously well, and Verrett sings, and looks, like a goddess. (Actually, Domingo looks pretty good, too.) And the baritone, Wolfgang Brendel, has a strong, ringing baritone that can't be beat! I found the chorus to be excellent, and the scenery and costumes wonderful, especially for a house of the size of the San Francisco Opera. Even the subtitles are easy to read. And, of course, the music is very beautiful. This is as close to perfection as you are ever going to find.

As someone who always looks at the principle singers first in an opera, this production is a dream. While it's true that some of Rudel's conducting and some of the choruses are slightly objectionable, you simply can't beat the lead trio.

First of all, Shirley Verrett (La Nera Callas) is simply astonishing in this role, one of her finest. She has the perfect Italianate sound for Dalila from top to bottom. Her French diction is excellent, and her phrasing perfectly suites the French style of the work. I find her in fresher voice than in the later London production with Vickers, and her acting is far superior in this production as well. Her costumes and wigs are always flattering and help her get into Dalila's skin, and this manifests itself magnificently.

Domingo, though not my favorite tenor, is again consistent in his singing and characterization. He handles the French quite well and is quite believable as Dalila's helpless victim. His solo scene is very moving, as is his performance in the final scene. Brendel is also quite convincing. I find his baritone much smoother and better suited to the High Priest than Summers' in the London production, and his characterization is quite good throughout.

Overall, this is a gorgeous and impressive production of a superb (though overlooked), very French opera. Verrett is simply sublime, and the rest of the production follows her example. Highly recommended over all other recordings and DVDs of this opera (and I've heard/seen 'em all!).

There is no dought to tell that this is a great performance with Domingo, Verrett and Brendel at their best condition. Their voices are all powerful and beautiful with full of expression. The stage design is classical with traditional costumes, although I am not very sure that they are historivcally correct, and I was happy to enjoy this performance without funny modernism like Samson in T-shirt + jeans or Dalila in a mini-skirt. Rudel's conduct was also good and the orchestra played very well. Is this so good? YES!
But there are two problems. It is impossible to make the subtitles off. They are part of the video and we have to watch them always. Also soon after the end scene a loud extra anouncement starts. This is quite noisy!
Anyway I think in this stage this performance is the best.

At times I thought Domingo looked like Victor Mature, though I was expecting a Delilah looking like Hedy Lamar. No problem. This is a terrific cast and production with great voices, music, sets, costumes, libretto and generous sub-titles, a rarity for the latter. The four stars go to Saint-Saen. With his genius he could have given us more show stopper arias like Puccini or Verdi. I counted one --- the love duet. And yes I missed how Deliah wrestled Samson's secret out of him.

Well, I was very cuorious about this DVD but when i finally got it...what a disappointment!
The perfomance generally is very dull, the acting is boring and sometimes all lacks of director's work are obvious. They sing...rather good...but that's it. Better not see the video. When one watch the seduction scene it's rather hard to pick up how Dalila succeded to seduce Samson...kind of ridiculous. etc
More to this the sound direction of the opera is not really well-done - the voices are pulled straight very loud while the music is rather quite.

2 STARS only - better choose another video of this wonderful opera. For Verrett and Domingo fans only.

This is not one of my favorites but Domingo makes this watchable. The last scene, as always, goes on a bit too long.

Es una lastima que teniendo a PLACIDO DOMINGO, sin duda el maximo interprete del papel de Samsom, que aqui vuelve a ofrecer una interpretacion sobresaliente del personaje, con una leccion de canto y actuacion magistral, y a SHIRLEY VERRET, una Dalila seductora de voz bella y sugerente, que cuaja tambien una gran actuacion, se hayan descuidado todos los demas detalles. Desde unos secundarios que estan entre la suficiencia discreta y la deficiencia hasta un coro flojo, pasando por una produccion anticuada, fea y aburrida, y por una poco inspirada direccion musical de JULIUS RUDEL.
Es una lastima que lo que pudo ser una noche magica se quede en eso: en un gran Sanson y una gran Dalila, pero falta todo lo demas