Gounod - Romeo et Juliette / Mackerras, Alagna, Vaduva, Royal Opera Covent Garden

Starring:Roberto Alagna, Leontina Vaduva, Anna Maria Panzarella, Robert Lloyd, FranÃ§ois Le Roux, Paul Charles Clarke, Peter Sidhom, Sarah Walker
Director: Brian Large
Studio: Kultur Video
Product Type: DVD

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Gounod's version of Shakespeare's tragedy about two "star-crossed lovers" has never been considered a first-class opera, but as this 1994 Royal Opera production movingly shows, with the right singers and conductor it can be a quite emotional experience. Tenor Roberto Alagna is all youthful ardor and aching romance as Romeo, while soprano Leontina Vaduva plays Juliet as a lover frightfully aware of the doom the pair is moving toward. Among an able supporting cast, Francois Le Roux stands out as Mercutio. Nicolas Joel's staging rarely strays from its focus on the lovers, and it even finds room for moments of true invention and wit. Conducting the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Charles Mackerras again proves his worth as an estimable interpreter of this kind of traditional French opera. --Kevin Filipski

Customer Reviews:

A second-tier opera gets a first class performance.......2006-03-07

This is a superb production, sumptuously staged and sung with passion throughout. The young Alagna sings beautifully with an exquisite sense of lyricism and dynamics. He won an Olivier award for his performance and it was well-deserved. Vaduva is a memorable Juliette: she captures the awkwardness and coltishness of an adolescent girl overcome with passion and not quite knowing how to handle it until it's too late. Their emotions are almost palpable and the final scene is truly heartwrenching. Both singers tend to veer slightly off pitch at times but hey, this is a live performance and I much prefer them to the CD versions. Francois Le Roux is a carefree, careless Mercutio and Anna Maria Panzerella gets the Wasted Mezzo award for her superb portrayal of the page Stephano. Nicolas Joel's direction never gets out line although there are some curious omissions (Romeo and Juliet don't kiss at their first meeting; Mercutio asks Romeo, 'Why did you come between us?' in the duel scene; Romeo is at the other end of the stage.). Sir Charles Mackerras gives a lyrical and passionate account of the score. We discovered this video after a thoroughly disappointing production in Cincinnati and what a wonderful antidote it was. Don't waste your time on the one hour version that was shown in 2002 on PBS with Alagna and Gheorghiu--this is the real thing.

Wonderful!.......2005-12-04

This is one of my favorites. The sets are a bit drab (I don't understand the constant blue lighting), but the performances from the singers make up for it. All of the supporting roles are well sung, but it is Romeo and Juliet that make this a production to remember.

Alagna is in fine voice -- his "Ah! leve-toi, soleil!" is magnificent. As the opera goes on, his voice can be unsteady and a bit out of tune at times, but overall this is a very good performance. His acting is also very believable, as is Vaduva's. They both look and act the part. Vaduva's voice is somewhat strained at times, but for the majority of the time she sings the part well. Together, Alagna and Vaduva are captivating to watch. The tomb scene especially will bring tears to your eyes.

The combination of Gounod's achingly beautiful music and the fine singing/acting make this a treat to experience. 4 stars.

It Doesn't Get Better!.......2003-02-13

I've just ordered this DVD after watching it on PBS. I'm an opera tenor myself and not always enamored with Roberto Alagna. But he does an absolutely superb job here, and Vaduva matches and balances him perfectly. Their acting, right down to their dual deaths at the end, is natural and not contrived as many operas seem. I've heard, seen, and sung in many operas around the world, but it really doesn't get better than this!

Could Have Been Better..........2003-01-28

Beautifully staged, packed with drama and emotions, this "Romeo et Juliette" gives the feeling of a modern Shakespearean production. The artistic design is simple and straightforward, and yet, serves the purpose quite well and permits more focusing on the characters. But for all of its elegance and charm, nothing is really extraordinary. I'm probably missing something here, as I experienced few of the wonders that others have expressed.
The singings are good, but not exciting, even for Roberto Alagna, whose singing here is not well formed compared to some of his other recordings. He has a nice voice in the middle register, but as it ascends, it becomes white and bit of insecure. Leontina Vaduva's singing in the role of Juliette is weak. For some reason, at times, it feels weary watching her singing and acting. Both Vaduva and Alagna's acting are somewhat stagy, loaded with vehemence, while what's really lacking is the emotional communication between them. I think that one thing they could do better is to look into each other's eyes more often. The doomed lovers' death scene in Act V is affecting, but doesn't reach the dramatic hilt I expected, but again, it could be just me.

"SINGING-ACTORS" WHO CAN REALLY SING!!!!.......2002-01-25

The reason to purchase this DVD of Romeo et Juliette by Gounod is the wonderful, expressive singing of Roberto Alagna and Leontina Vaduva. Not only do they sound great, they LOOK great and act their parts sincerely and movingly. The final scene of this opera with the two doomed and dying lovers desperately reaching out for one last unobtainable kiss could "make the stones weep" in this Covent Garden performance, taped in 1994. The production is somewhat sparse but traditional, with beautiful costumes and atmosphere. Supporting singers Francois Le Roux and Robert Lloyd do a fine job, but the focus of this performance is the two lovers and Alagna and Vaduva convince you with their voices and their demeanor that they are exactly that: young and in love. Two of the many vocal highlights are Alagna's aria, "Ah, leve-toi soleil" and the ensemble that ends Act Three. Anytime the two lovers are onstage, there is operatic magic (all too rare these days). Alagna combines French style with Italian bravura and Vaduva has a voice with sweetness and vulnerablity which seems to grow in size for the dramatic and often cut Poison Aria.
This DVD comes highly recommended to lovers of great singing which too often, in present times, is cast aside for singers who "look and act the part". What a treat to have both!!!!

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