Bizet - Les Pecheurs de Perles / Massis, Grassi, Nakajima, De Donato, Viotti, Venice Opera

Starring:Annick Massis (Cast), Yasu Nakajima, Luca Grassi, Luigi Di Donato, Tiziano Mancini (Director), Pier Luigi Pizzi (Stage Director), Georges Bizet (Composer)
Director: Marcello Viotti
Studio: Dynamic Italy
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Absolute junk! poor Bizet
A BEAUTIFUL EVENING FOR EYE AND EAR
Good opera, adequate perfprmance
These Pearles are worth fishing for
Visuals add to this adequate performance

Bizet - Les Pecheurs de Perles / Massis, Grassi, Nakajima, De Donato, Viotti, Venice Opera
Starring: Annick Massis (Cast) , Yasu Nakajima , Luca Grassi , Luigi Di Donato , and Tiziano Mancini (Director)
Director: Marcello Viotti
Manufacturer: Dynamic Italy
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Bellini - I Puritani / Gruberova, Bros, Alvarez, Orfila, Gorny, Madrid, Pierotti, Haider, Barcelona Opera
Verdi - Il Corsaro / Bruson, Michailov, Sburlati, Damato, Palumbo, Parma Opera
Rossini - Il Turco in Italia / Bartoli, Raimondi, Macias, Rumetz, Schmid, Welser-Most, Zurich Opera
Massenet - Thais / Mei, Pertusi, Joyner, Fel, Viotti, Venice Opera
Delibes - Lakme / Joan Sutherland, Huguette Tourangeau, Henri Wilden, John Pringle, Richard Bonynge, Opera Australia

ASIN: B0007VY5IU
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Customer Reviews:

Absolute junk! poor Bizet.......2007-06-07

Where the hell did they find this tenor? To think I have a domingo recording of this and I just watched this junk! If you don't believe me watch it and count how many time Nakajima has to stop during the "je crois" aria in order to breath. He has no skills, no power, no breath and the high notes come out horrible. Oh my gosh. This opera is my favorite Bizet opera and now I feel betrayed. This guy does not deserve any role but perhaps to be a chorus singer. I realize your choices for Pearl Fishers are limited but don't waste your money. Just buy a CD recording instead

A BEAUTIFUL EVENING FOR EYE AND EAR.......2007-05-25

This creative production is very well sung, danced, conducted, staged, and filmed. Annick Massis has a world class voice and the baritone Luca Grassi also has a major beautiful voice. Yasu Nakajima is better than some of the other reviewers state, but just not a true world class tenor. Truthfully he doesn't act and often is looking at the conductor not relating to his fellow singing actors at all. He is however much better than just adequate. I've seen and heard a lot worse. The unit set works very well and the choreography most of the time is quite creative and highly effective; especially during the great Tenor and Baritone duet. I also found the camera work interesting and not distracting. It may be a long time before we get another DVD of this delightful score so let's be thankful for what we have. It works and has many fine moments. The conductor Marcello Viotti is excellent. In conclusion: very well sung and creatively produced and filmed.

Good opera, adequate perfprmance.......2007-01-28

Pearl Fishers has a lot of beautiful music and, since this is the only DVD of it available, I recommend it. Everyone is adequate but none is outstanding. Leila looks much too old for the great beauty she is supposed to be (this would not be a problem with for the theater audience) and occasionaly is a little harsh. The filming with its superimposed closeups is sometimes distracting. But even with these shortcomimgs, it is still an enjoyable DVD.

These Pearles are worth fishing for.......2006-04-27

Firstly let me say that the following is my personal opinion and it may not be yours; but think about what I have to say and hopefully you will give this little gem a dust and polish and see it for what it is.
Les P?cheurs de Perles is one of those rare operatic gems, just like the real thing. A very easy opera to stage, yet not staged enough. This production from the Teatro la Fenice di Venzia, achieves just that. It is an opera that does not demand powerful voices, so you do not require a Domingo/Milnes here. The production is first rate and the cast equally as good. Though being a traditionalist where sets & costumes are concerned, I actually find this set works.
My previous colleagues seem to disapprove of Nakajima's voice. Granted it is not a powerful voice, but as I stated in the beginning, this opera does not require it. We have been spoilt by having had the cream of the opera world sing it, but that does not have to be. As far as saying he's off pitch, he is not and as in the duet (the original and not the traditional); he & Grassi blend exceptionally well.
Annick Massis' L??la is just something again. I can not wait to see her in something else. She has actually recorded two Donizetti's Operas for Opera Rara: "Elvida" and "Francesca di Foix".
One has to remember that this is a performance of the ORIGINAL "Les P?cheurs de Perles" and not the one we have grown up with, so there are some changes that we have to come to terms with. Like Nadir's aria not scraping the paint off the ceiling, but gently letting it die away. The Duet melody we are use to in "Au fond du temple saint", actually appears as a trio at the end of the opera. There are other subtle changes as the opera goes on. I actually prefer this `Original' production and if looked at through fresh eyes, you will too.
This means not trying to compare it with previous versions, because you can not, it IS quite different and you have to forget all the others and treat it on it's own merits.
All in All; this is quite a performance and deserves to be added to your collection. After all; we are NOT going to get another DVD production for many, many years to come; if at all. I welcome this work into my collection with no reservation.

Visuals add to this adequate performance.......2005-08-13

This isn't a great opera but it has some beautiful moments. The plot is cliched, but the exotic locale helps leaven it and Bizet supplies some gorgeous "Asian" sounding music. The principles are all up to their roles. Massi as Leila is wonderful although she looks a little old for the part. The tenor Nikajima has a sweet if somewhat weak voice and Grassi has a nice baritone. The production uses a unit set but varies it when necessary. Another element is the dance which flows throughout the production and enhances it. The CD of this performance would not challenge the EMI set with Barbara Hendricks. But when you add the visuals it earns its place.

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