Customer Reviews

Verdi - Attila / Jérôme Savary · Riccardo Muti · Samuel Ramey · Teatro alla Scala

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From the foreboding overture to the Ceasar-esque finale, Verdi's "Attila" is a nonstop musical and dramatic masterpiece. Samuel Ramey gives a stellar perfomance as the Hun leader. Cheryl Studer and Giorgio Zancanaro round out the cast that truly breath firey life into Verdi's music. This La Scala production is conducted by the powerful Riccardo Muti, who gives a militaristic yet passionate treatment of the score. This recording is a must-have for opera fans of any level. "Attila" is three acts of rousing, passionate, and glorious theater, performed in the grand opera tradition for which it was written.

This opera is one of Verdi's forgotten ones perhaps because you need powerful and commanding voices to sing it. One couldn't hope for a better Attila than Samuel Ramey. He is simply vocally at his best and his acting is terrific. Cheryl Studer is a powerful Odabella and the Italian baritone Giorgio Zancanaro is outstanding. If you love Verdi's Nabucco, you will love Attila. I think that the Italians have it over the Americans; the Chorus is wonderful. The conductor, Riccardo Muti, is perhaps one of the best. This was the first opera I bought on DVD and I have gone back to it over and over. Please buy this one. It's worth the money.

Ramey and Studer triumph in a spectacular performance. Ramey's resonant bass rings true and powerful. Ranks up there with his Mefistofele! I cannot imagine this role more superbly sung and acted. Chicago Lyric Opera is in for much excitement next season when he does this role for them with such commanding and thrilling tone. Studer sings in the same league and calibre: rich tone, secure and powerful high notes with dramatic intensity, simply an all out no stops performance. Her soft notes are beautiful and her duets with the tenor Kaludov are equally memorable. He is not quite in her league but he does some fine singing. Wonderful production. Only Zancanaro lets down the side a litle but then it is not much of a role to start with. La Scala can be proud of this performance - which ranks high with their Domingo "Fanciulla" - and we are luckier than the audience present since we can see it at will.

This opera is capable of overwhelming any audience with a penchant for Verdi. Sensibly staged with great video and audio,this particular opera maintains high production standards throughout. Even Cherly Studer brings off a very suitable impersonation of the warrior maiden Odabella. The polished, spirted work of chorus and orchestra is testimony to Ricardo Muti's ability to maintain the standards at La Scala. It's only 118 minutes long, so you won't get bored. Buy it . . . You'll love it.

Where do I start? From the overture to the last scene this opera is packed with punch. I find it hard to believe that such a great opera is not performed live more often. Maybe it's because no one will dare tackle Attila's role after seeing Samuel Ramey sing and act it to perfection. What an incredible performance by Ramey. Studer is a bit screamy in this one, Kaludov is somewhat whimpy but Zancanaro is solid. Ramey's performance is so good that on his strength alone this one gets all five stars. This is a must buy for any Verdi fan and a great buy for all others.

This one is outstanding performance done by second to none artists. I have been seating breathless from the first up to last sound of this beauty. If you one like me, seek on Verdi, this definitely for you. I rent this DVD from Netflix and kept it for 1 mount but finally decided to get my own.
I highly recommend watch to this one.

The music and video were wonderful. I have not had the oportunity to see this Opera in the theater so this was a real treat. My husband and I have watched it several times since we bought it from Amazon.

Loved it from the moment Odabella (played masterfully by Cheryl Struder) jumped into Attila's face, and took his sword. She sings a song about killing him for vengeance, while he falls in love with this fiesty slave. Well sung and played by all four of the principles. It remains on my "desert island" list of 6, out of about 120 operas I have seen. If you love Verdi, as I do, you won't regret buying this one.

The standouts in this extraordinary live recording are the fine Odabella of soprano Cheryl Studer, caught in the prime of her youth and the Ezio of Giorgio Zancanaro. Well, at the scrupulous conducting of Maestro Muti. Ramey is fine in the title role if a bit hammy for my taste. Still, this video is worthy of 10 (out of 10) stars. Do not miss this!

Studer is absolutely magnificent in her role here and both her singing mates do a fine job. The love duet in the early part of the opera is absolutely one of the best I have ever heard or seen. A great presentation and no one should be without it.