Lehar - The Merry Widow / Bonynge, Sutherland, Stevens, Opera Australia

Starring:Joan Sutherland, Ron Stevens, Anne Maree McDonald, Anson Austin, Gordon Wilcock, Graeme Ewer, Irene Cassimatis, David Brennan, Jennifer Bermingham, Rosina Raisbeck, Neil Kirkby, John Germain, Jonathon Welch, Caroline Clack, Christopher Dawes
Director: Virginia Lumsden
Studio: Kultur Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
This production of Lehar's The Merry Widow is a mixed bag, appropriate, perhaps, for a work of art that is both sublime and ridiculous. Its weakest element is the presence of Joan Sutherland, which will undoubtedly attract the most buyers. Still, viewers will replay it often (perhaps bypassing some of Sutherland's numbers) for the sake of its lavish production, particularly for the abundant, polished, and colorful dance numbers.

Amazon.com

This production of Lehar's The Merry Widow is a mixed bag, appropriate, perhaps, for a work of art that is both sublime and ridiculous. Its weakest element is the presence of Joan Sutherland, which will undoubtedly attract the most buyers. Still, viewers will replay it often (perhaps bypassing some of Sutherland's numbers) for the sake of its lavish production, particularly for the abundant, polished, and colorful dance numbers.

Customer Reviews:

Nonsense.......2004-08-29

I didn't like it, but the audience in Australia certainly did. Sutherland sang only one thing (in my opinion) poorly, and that was I think the last number in the show, what is commonly called The Merry Widow Waltz. She sang it in her "low voice" (to take an expression from Kiri Te Kanawa) and I didn't like it. The rest of it (what there WAS of it!) was wonderful. Too much dialogue. Too much farce (it was stupid). I've heard several different versions of this score, and except a few tunes, they all seem to have different songs in them. Which reminds me, my preference (even over Sutherland) is Studer's CD of this show. Glorious! I may be mistaken, but I think, in fact am almost positive, that some of the songs were cut (to make room for that boring, idiotic dialogue? And what was the point of all the dancing, the choreography of which was NOT particularly enthralling?). Finally, it was a pleasure, a treasure to hear Sutherland talk in English at great length, she is one of my favorite people, and now at last I know what her speaking voice sounded like. The English lyrics were pedestrian, and they might as well have left it all in German it was so hard to understand what anyone was saying. I liked the 3rd act the best. And I knew I was in trouble (like a dish of cold water in the face) when Danilo spoke instead of singing his first number. Bleah!

A GREAT SHOW.......2004-04-01

This is a great DVD ifi you want to see the heroine, getting the man, and staying alive to enjoy it. The ballet is great, the costumes are amazing, and the prince is....Ron Stevens!!!,
Joan is clearly having a blast; dancing jumping singing talking and being herself.

Direct from Australian TV.......2004-01-18

This performance was not made just for, or even with DVD in mind, it is simply a transfer from a standard TV production, and as such is flawed, the michrophones are of poor quality, making Joan Southerland sound rather off, they can't properly record her extreme dynamic range (a real shame, because people are mistaking what was recorded with the way she really sounds)the video is poor, and looks really bad on a large screen, although not that bad on a regular tv, the performances are as good as any you are likely to find on record, although different from the San Francisco Opera production,, which is every bit as good in the performances, but superior in Video, Audio, Stageing, Costumes, and lighting, for Southerland fans this will be the one, for everyone else the San Francisco Opera DVD is the one to get, unless or until a new Widow is released

Ugh!!!.......2003-07-14

I don't have much to say but that Sutherland sounds abominable in this performance. She is just too old! Acting is terrible, voice is terrible....that's 0 out of 2, and sutherland is in the title role! Skip this one, it's not worth it one bit.

A hook for the diva ???????.......2003-02-08

There certainly are a lot of warts on this Australian production, and to blame them all on Joan Southerland is, I think misguided..... I mean even the editorial review is less than flattering to the aging diva ... meeoww meowww ... little plate of milk for, on the floor though, the ed reviewers .....

This is one of the very very few DVD's of this opera and that is what makes it enjoyable, to be able to at least see in in your home. The dance numbers are exquisite and as a whole the lighting and video are excellent....

If there is a down on this DVD well I am disgusted that it was only cut in two channel Dolby ... what ... 2 channels ... I didn't even know there was a dvd available in 2 channel stereo ... WOW what a bummer ...

As a die hard audiophile I couldn't take it and left the room ... but my wife and all her friends who are card carrying, season ticket opera NUTS ... all enjoyed the DVD ... go figure ....

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