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50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perhaps the best performance of a Verdi opera at the Met, March 6, 2003
This review is from: Verdi - Simon Boccanegra / Levine, Te Kanawa, Metropolitan Opera (DVD)
It is a tribute to my love of this production, which I already owned on video, that it was one of my first purchases on the DVD format. Like many people,I have long regarded Simon Boccanegra as a masterpiece on the same level as Otello and Falstaff, and indeed Verdi returned to revise much of the music and libretto after he had completed the former. Here, each of the principals gives a marvellously involved performance, and the criticisms which can apply to some Met productions about a lack of dramatic credibility, fall by the wayside - del Monaco knows his job and, though traditional, presents a totally believable and visually sumptuous slice of late Renaissance Genoa. Levine offers a lucid and fluent account of the score, tender and poetic in the scenes between Chernov and te Kanawa, majestic and implaccable with the entrance of Lloyd - without doubt the most moving and sonorous Fiesco I have ever seen. Domingo defies age, and presents a totally credible Quattrocento figure. He sings with beautiful mezza voce tone in the first duet with te Kanawa and virile splendour in his aria and elsewhere, with only the slightest hint of strain towards the end. Kiri is vocally pristine as Amelia and her physical beauty is as important an asset in this role as it was as Desdemona - the role of her Met debut. The virtual disapperance of Chernov after these performances is, to me, incomprehensible. Perhaps his essentially lyric baritone was too slender for the House, but as recorded here he offers a Boccanegra of insight, depth and vulnerabilty. He is a subtler actor than either Milnes or the late, great Cappuccilli, even if he lacks their ringing tones in the Council Chamber scene.I defy anyone with a heart to remain unmoved in his final duet with Lloyd. I cannot recommend the experience of this performance highly enough. May it convert many people to opera on DVD, Simon Boccanegra, and, above all, Verdi.
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Flawless, November 15, 2002
This review is from: Verdi - Simon Boccanegra / Levine, Te Kanawa, Metropolitan Opera (DVD)
SIMON BOCCANEGRA is one of Verdi's most difficult operas to pull of successfully. First of all, unlike most operas, it is not a love story. Though the relationship between Amelia and Gabrielle is profiled here, it is not the focal point of the plot. Furthermore, there is a constant somber mood that covers the entire opera. Still, this opera is Verdi at his best. The music is haunting and powerful, the plot interesting and touching. THis production, taped at the Met in 1995 is just about as good as you'll see anywhere. Too often we hear of operas "golden age," a time when an opera like this could be cast without a weak link. Well, the same thing goes here. There are four amazing singers under the direction of a great Verdi conductor. Vladimir Chernov uses is powerful baritone to the full effect here and proves himself to be a terrific Verdi singer. He is also one hell of an actor, to boot! Robert Lloyd sings just as well as Fiesco, but acts even better than Chernov. When he is on stage, one feels that the opera is about him. In it is true luxury casting to have Kiri Te Kanawa and Placido Domingo as the young lovers. OK, so both of them were in their fifties at this point and hardly look like young lovers, but still, their voices sound as youthful as ever and it is a treat! Levine brings alot out of the orchestra and his conducting shows true mastery, particularly in the Council Chamber scene. The production, by Gian Carlo del Monaco, is colorful at times, dark and somber at other times- how perfect for an opera such as this!
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tutti Brava, October 25, 2004
This review is from: Verdi - Simon Boccanegra / Levine, Te Kanawa, Metropolitan Opera (DVD)
Simon Boccanegra is greatly underappreciated. For the patient listener, it is an inestimable treasure. The opera may not be ecspecially tuneful, but its epic plot and moving composition, place it at the top of Verdi's Operas. This production has no weak points, it delivers everwhere. First Chernov in the Title role. His voice is very french, with a nasal edge and quick vibrato. He is a Lyric Baritone, which worked very well. Simone is not a powerful and willing leader, he is a man of peace and reflection, who hates shows of force. He is an extremely concilliatory Doge, with a romantic heart. His place as Doge was taken only for the sake of his love for Maria. His Lyrical baritone made the character vulnerable and sypathetic. this something that Milnes could not do with his boccanegra. I cannot imagine the role acted more perfectly, Chernov pulls at your heartstrings all evening. Robert Lloyd as Fiesco was very convincing. he was indeed a "real" bass (I heard his F just fine.) more importatly he is an exemplary actor. Whether playing the enraged old man, desperatley wishing for vengance, or the supplicant father, Lloyd is hauntingly convincing. Bruno Pola deserves his own section as the evil Paolo. His is a baritone of great power. He can easily overpower the more lyric voice of Chernov which is extremely dramatically effective. From a dramatic standpoint, he is a short, fat, man, who was very evocative of the evil character. He was a perfect Paolo. Te Kanawa sang very well as Amelia. It is almost stunning how her beauty completely belies her age. She does not look, or sound, old. She is a really wonderul Amerlia. Domingo is the only bother visually. He is, and looks, 55. At first he looks silly in his youthful armor embracing Amelia. However, he sounds fabulous. And as the opera continues, you forget that he is old. He continues to act and sing like a 30 year old, and by the 2nd act you begin to believe him. his aria is Picture Perfect. Enjoy this operatic treasure
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