Product Details

• Actors: Colette Alliot-Lugaz, Georges Gautier, Jules Bastin, François Le Roux, Ghyslaine Raphanel
• Directors: Bernard Maigrot
• Writers: Albert Vanloo, Eugène Leterrier
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: June 11, 2002
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00006674K
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,875 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The first of Emmanuel Chabrier's five operas is wickedly witty, musically delightful, and, in this bright, well-directed, and superbly conducted performance, utterly charming. The composer is best known for two small orchestral showpieces, the "España Rhapsody" and the "Marche Joyeuse," which are in the repertoire of virtually every orchestra. His operas are less familiar in France and virtually unknown in the United States (though the Glimmerglass Opera has produced L'Etoile). His operas deserve to be as well-known as his orchestral music, and this performance is a long step in the right direction.

L'Etoile has a silly, complicated plot that the Opera de Lyon's cast handles with the right light touch--particularly Georges Gautier as Ouf I, ruler of an imaginary kingdom, and Colette Alliot-Lugaz, performing brilliantly in the trouser role of the little peddler Lazuli, who is chosen to be executed in celebration of Ouf's anniversary. --Joe McLellan

Product Description
Set in a mystical fairy tale kingdom, "L'Etoile" is a comedy of lovelorn hopes, terrors and misunderstandings that inevitably unravels a happy ending. This acclaimed Opera de Lyon production is performed by a French cast who relish the farcical mixture of Far Eastern kings, executioners, love and intrigue. The Gilbertian twists in the plot and its parallels with "The Mikado" are very striking, but it has a unique French flavor with a score of melodic freshness and a wicked sense of fun.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, May 2, 2004

By	C. Harbison (Montague, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The voices are not recorded live which is very disturbing since the action moves so quickly--no sense of immediate, live performance--but calculated and arranged angles that could not have been done during performance and lip-syncing is not accurate or convincing. The CD version is wonderful and the music survives here but the fact that the singers on the screen are not actually singing what you are hearing destroys the magic of this wonderfully silly opera.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Chabrier L'Etoile, July 9, 2002

By A Customer

This L'Etoile is thoroughly enjoyable after a slow start, and very well sung & acted. If you enjoy Gilbert & Sullivan or Offenbach operettas, I would highly recommend this DVD.