Customer Reviews

Verdi - Requiem / Montserrat Caballe, Peter Dvorsky, Lucia Valentini Terrani, Samuel Ramey; Claudio Abbado, La Scala

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Montserrat Caballe was the reason I bought this dvd and loved her voice in the past. She was not singing or there was something wrong with her. I was disappointed. Had I known this I would not have purchased. Samuel Ramey was excellent, however, and so was the orchestra.

I knew this was simply a rehearsal for the Verdi Requiem and was anxious to purchase because of Ms. Caballe. Wished I hadn't!!!

Such an enriching experience to spend an afternoon immersed in the 1985 rehearsal of Verdi's Missa da Requiem as conducted by a youthful Claudio Abbado!

What an intimate way to experience the Requiem: the soloists work with Abbado and full orchestra as well as with piano; his sensitive conducting is fascinating to watch, and the soloists' interaction with him makes for a unique and instructive hour and a half.

I was particularly taken with the very fine interpretation of mezzo soprano Lucia Valentin Tarrani (who, tragically, was to die in about ten years from leukemia), and with the beautiful bass voice of Kansas native Samuel Ramey, born in 1942, who is still performing today.

The orchestra and chorus are superb, and the ensemble is simply thrilling to watch-- and what a lovely setting! The German voiceovers are nicely done and are not instrusive. Subtitles are available in English, French, and Spanish.

Photography is not fine but is not a problem, and the use of the camera works very well. I so enjoyed the close-ups of the soloists.

Sadly, I was unable to find a DVD of the actual 1985 performance, but this rehearsal features almost the entire Requiem.

A friend and I found this spellbinding. I was drawn to it because of Caballé. But it gives one great appreciation of Abbado's process of conducting this complex piece. The film directors moved around from rehearsal to performance. If you are intrigued by the creative process that brings great performances to fruition, this is to be highly recommended.