Product Details

• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Subtitles: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kultur Video
• VHS Release Date: September 16, 1997
• Run Time: 148 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1561270415
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #348,087 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Antonio Vivaldi was an important opera composer, with at least 47 operas--and perhaps twice that many--to his credit. But he first became known to modern audiences almost exclusively for his instrumental music. This unbalanced view does not mean that his operatic music is inferior to his concertos. It reflects instead economic conditions (opera costs a lot more to produce than instrumental music) and major changes in the tastes of the opera audience during the 19th century and much of the 20th.

Baroque opera has made a comeback in popular taste in recent decades, and this production of Orlando furioso embodies the genre's distinctive qualities: elaborately ornamented da capo arias, the use of high-pitched voices (originally castrati) in heroic roles, and an intricate plot full of implausible relations, misunderstandings, and deceptions among star-crossed lovers. The primary reason for the recording's existence is the spectacular performance of Marilyn Horne in the role of the medieval knight Orlando, legendary nephew of Charlemagne, including a long and technically dazzling mad scene. But the San Francisco Opera has assembled a stellar cast for the sometimes extraordinary demands of the other roles. Particularly impressive are Susan Patterson as Angelica, whom Orlando loves to the point of madness, and Kathleen Kuhlmann as the wicked witch Alcina, but the whole cast performs without significant weakness. Visually, the production captures the fairy-tale quality of the libretto, and conductor Randall Behr has Vivaldi's style, vocal and instrumental, well in hand. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great work by Vivaldi., September 14, 2000

By 

Byron Drachman (East Lansing, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivaldi - Orlando furioso / Behr, Horne, Patterson, San Francisco Opera (DVD)

This is a glorious work by Vivaldi. It is a live, high-energy production. Of course, you have to accept the usual blemishes and imperfections of a live production. The only other production I know is an earlier (1977) recording, also with Marilyn Horne. I was expecting to hear a baritone as Ruggiero. This production has a counter-tenor or something like that: Jeffrey Gall. Normally I find counter-tenors annoying, but Jeffrey Gall quickly won me over. In fact, all the singers are wonderful. The staging, costumes, etc. are excellent. If you like Vivaldi, you definitely want this DVD. Watch for the moments when Alcina (Kathleen Kuhlmann) flirts. You will enjoy the statues. What fun!

The only disappointment is not in the production, but that no synopsis is included. There is a hint at the plot included in a few sentences on the back of the case. You will need to get the synopsis somewhere else. Just reading the back of the case and following the subtitles won't be enough to know what is happening. Why do the people who make DVD's have to be so stingy? How hard would it be to include a synopsis?

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning performance of a Baroque masterwork, December 17, 2000

By 

Luiz Abreu (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivaldi - Orlando Furioso / Behr, Horne, Patterson, San Francisco Opera [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a beautiful rare performance of one of many often- neglected Baroque masterworks. I found the production lively, faithful to the spirit of the piece. The costumes are stunningly beautiful and the arias are very well sung. Much has been said in praise of Marilyn Horne's performance so I will concentrate on Kathleen Kuhlmann's excellent performance as Alcina. Alcina's arias are among the most inspired in this work of so many inspired, moving arias and Kathleen Kuhlmann never fails to make of each a separate treat. She has great stage presence and is able to convey the idea that Alcina is in fact a very complex character: evil and selfish, yes, but also lonely and in desperate need of affection and therefore very vulnerable. Kuhlmann is also a very attractive woman, which is essential to the role. "Orlando Furioso" is a strong reminder of what many of us have known all along: Baroque opera is a treasure house of extraordinary masterpieces which modern audiences still have to discover, from the great operas of Handel to the works of the very talented Italian composers, Vivaldi being the greatest of them.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a Baroque Masterpiece, December 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Vivaldi - Orlando furioso / Behr, Horne, Patterson, San Francisco Opera (DVD)

Before I saw this work I didn't really care for Baroque opera. But since then I thought this was one of the best operas ever written. If you could compare it with food it would be dark chocolate. Vivaldi had good taste when it came to writing violin concerti but when it came to opera he was AWESOME!!! The other thing I like about this production is the performers. Marilyn Horne's voice is perfect for that sort of role. The other character that I like is Bradamante sung by Sandra Walker. I love her deep alto voice. Its definitely strong and flowing at the same time. I also like the stage set-up. The way that it transforms after each aria is awesome. I would definitely recommend this opera to any Baroque opera lover