Product Details

• Actors: Pierre Cressoy, Anna-Maria Ferrero, Gaby André, Sandro Ruffini, Camillo Pilotto
• Directors: Raffaello Matarazzo
• Format: Classical, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: Italian
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: View Video
• VHS Release Date: February 6, 1996
• Run Time: 118 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 6301007964
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #62,714 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

NY Daily News
...A MUSICAL GEM!

Product Description
Sung by: Tito Gobbi, Mario Del Monaco, Orietta Moscucci, Vito de Taranto
Accompanied by the Rome Opera Orchestra.
Scenes from Nabucco, Ernani, Rigoletto, Trovatore, Traviata, Aida, Otello, Falstaff.
Starring: Pierre Cressoy, Anna Maria Ferrero and Gaby Andre

This colorfully filmed drama of the life and loves of the great composer, Guiseppe Verdi, is played against a background of the great operas of the 19th Century. A tender love story of Verdi's successful and turbulent life, we hear more than 20 excerpts from Rigoletto, La Traviata, Otello, Aida, Il Trovatore, Nabucco and many other operas. They are beautifully sung by international opera stars Tito Gobbi, Mario Del Monaco and Orietta Moscucci; and accompanied by the Rome Opera Orchestra.

"Rafaello Matarazzo's direction is outstanding in the musical sequences, Tino Santoni's photography richly captures the Romantic period and Pierre Cressoy is an impassioned Verdi." -Hollywood Reporter

The Patriarch of Italian opera began his career with the bel canto composers (Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini) and ended it as a contemporary of Debussy and Richard Strauss. Verdi's operas voiced his liberal views by making biting social and political comment, often bringing him into conflict with the censors. The 26 operas that he composed have become a permanent part of our musical heritage.

This nostalgic look at Verdi: The King of Melody, paints a romantic picture of the composer's struggle for success, his loves, and his musical triumph over the forces of political domination. Poignant and tender, filled with pathos, it is heart-rending in both its sad moments as well as in its times of joy. A theatrical and critical success when the feature film was released in the US in 1974, Verdi: The King of Melody, will touch your heart.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Verdi: recommended for opera lovers, January 21, 2007

By	Paulo Velloso (Sao Paulo, SP Brazil) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Verdi: The King of Melody (1813-1901) (DVD)

As I had seen this picture in the movie theatre, in the fifties; I always wanted to see it again.
The film is old and of poor quality, but extremely recomended for Opera (mainly Verdi's) lovers.
The best of the film are the performances from Mario del Monaco and Tito Gobbi, 2 sacred monsters.