Zubin Mehta & Misuko Uchida

Starring:Mehta, Uchida
Studio: Nutech Digital
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

PERHAPS THE GREATEST CONCERT DVD EVER!!!
Three Tenors
Beautiful setting for beautiful singing
The night that started it all! (#2)
5+ STARS FOR THIS ONE!!

Three Tenors: In Concert
Starring: Josep Carreras , Plácido Domingo , Luciano Pavarotti , and Zubin Mehta
Director: Brian Large
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:

The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994 / William Cosel
The Three Tenors Christmas
Paris 1998
Carreras · Domingo · Pavarotti ~ the three tenors in concert / Mehta
Pavarotti & Friends Collection (4pc)

ASIN: 6304493703
Release Date: 1997-06-24

Customer Reviews:

PERHAPS THE GREATEST CONCERT DVD EVER!!!.......2007-05-21

This DVD surpasses the very best concert videos you'll ever view. Recorded in Italy, the scintillating performances will sweep you away to past times and far-off places. Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti--what can I say but BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!! How fortunate are we afficionados to have three maestros of the art to view for years to come, long after they're gone---we'll still have them, immortalized on DVD. They perform at a level that seemingly even surprises themselves. A MUST for any lover of opera, arias or great concert videos. BRAVO!!!

shullcat2003

Three Tenors.......2007-02-17

This DVD is superb. Luciano Pavarotti is at his best, and so are the other tenors. I have enjoyed watching it several times and never get tired of it. Wonderful to hear all the tenors at their best.

Beautiful setting for beautiful singing.......2006-04-02

This 1990 soccer World Cup concert, which launched the Three Tenors phenomenon, has a beautiful open air setting at the Caracalla Baths in Rome. This means however, a loss of acoustics. Orchestral sounds that would be enriched by a little reverberation literally drift away on the evening breeze. But the singing is excellent. They sing 4 solos each, then - after a sinfonia, or orchestral interlude - 3 more as a trio; 16 tracks in all. All three singers are perfectly at ease in the Romance languages, but struggle with German and English, sometimes quite badly. In the worst example, 'Maria' from West Side Story, Pavarotti bellows, "Say it soft and it's almost like praying". Well, we'll have to take his word for it.

Despite these imperfections, the DVD remains a joyous celebration of some very fine singing and is well worth a look and a listen.

If you are yet to experience a Three Tenors concert, you might prefer to start with the 1994 Dodgers Stadium performance, when the soccer championship came to the US. That has more songs and is a slicker, more professional affair. It also has a celebrity audience, including Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, who are honored during the concert.

The night that started it all! (#2).......2006-01-31

Please see my review on the CD recording of this work. Everything I say there applies to this dvd. Buy it! It is a landmark in music history as well as one of the most enjoyable things you will ever watch!

5+ STARS FOR THIS ONE!!.......2006-01-04

You simply cannot go wrong with this one. I enjoyed this concert
immensely. The 3 Tenors all sing magnificently and they are at their best! Beautiful songs, beautiful surroundings. I highly recommend this DVD.

The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994 / William Cosel

Average customer rating:

Simple DVD with stellar music
Beauty Never Gets Old
T.T.T.T. =The Terrific Three Tenors!!
The best of the 3 tenor concerts!
In my humble opinion....

The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994 / William Cosel
Starring: Josep Carreras , Plácido Domingo , Luciano Pavarotti , Zubin Mehta , and Lalo Schifrin
Director: William Cosel
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:

Three Tenors: In Concert
Paris 1998
The Three Tenors Christmas
The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994
The Best of the Three Tenors

ASIN: 6304531303
Release Date: 1997-07-02

Product Description

The three greatest operatic tenors of the day - Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti - reunite for this 1994 concert commemorating soccer's World Cup Championships. Features the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orche stra, directed by Zubin Mehta. Certified over 5 million units by the RIAA.

Customer Reviews:

Simple DVD with stellar music.......2007-06-04

I can't agree with anyone more, the DVD is fantastic! I have the CD, and enjoyed the music. When I bought the DVD, it's like getting more than expected. More music, and you get to see the 3 awesome singers. I felt "gipped", because the finale ("Nessun Dorma" by all 3) wasn't on the CD, but that's no big deal. Anyway, the only complaint is with the programming of the DVD. On the package, it lists the chapters, but on the disk, the chapters are different. The package lists the final "world" medley as seperate chapters, but the medley is one. Also, there are no special features. But, altogether, I love the DVD.

Beauty Never Gets Old.......2006-12-10

I just bought this DVD after seeing the concert on TV 12 years ago. Seeing it again brings back all the wonderful feelings I had when I saw it the first time. The reviews I've read here are no exaggeration - this is a must see for everyone. I'm deeply moved by what beautiful things humans can create together when the conditions are right. I wish these guys wouldn't have to get old; the world needs more of the Three Tenors! (and, of course, Mehta and the beautiful orchestra and chorus)

T.T.T.T. =The Terrific Three Tenors!!.......2004-11-08

A truly wonderful performance. I wish I could of been there, but this is the closest I could get to it. The songs, the atmosphere, the orchestra....magnificant! I truly recommend this DVD. If you enjoy The Three Tenors, this is a must have. You can't go wrong with this one.

The best of the 3 tenor concerts!.......2004-05-15

Not only did they have Mehta, but the LA Phil and LA Opera chorus which makes this outshine the first performance in 1990. Of course, both performances are certainly worth collecting and you may get someone into an opera house with these top tenors. I was in the audience that night and must say they all sounded in top voice to me live and recorded. After repeated viewings I never tire of the arias. They changed the program right up to performance time and the printed programs didn't match what was sung that night. Who cares! This is just plain fun for everyone involved as well as the viewer! My only complaint is that the subtitles are "English" but just the librettos are subtitled, not the English translation so I hestiate to show it to a newbie. No translation is provided with the DVD but the Laser version did as did the VHS. Would be nice if the manufacturers would look at a DVD before releasing it with such glaring errors. This is a must have whether you are an opera fan or not! Bocelli could take a few lessons from watching this disc! Hopefully, people who think he is an opera singer will compare and see that there is a difference even with voices amplified. This is A MUST BUY! Watch it when you are depressed and it will surely change your mood for the better! Such singing! Such Fun!

In my humble opinion...........2003-12-24

Most people, opera lovers and opera discoverers alike, enjoy this concert immensely. However, it has also suffered some criticism, which I can't help but feel is somewhat unjustified and does not represent an accurate portrayal of this mesmerising performance. It is clear, from the selection of songs, that this concert is designed for popular consumption rather than a highbrow, purist audience. It is thought by some that Jose Carreras is perhaps not as powerful or captivating as Domingo or Pavarotti in performance, but his choice of songs and arias here show him 'sticking to what he is good at'. `With A Song In My Heart', for instance, is similar to songs he sung in his role in West Side Story - a lighter, more musical theatre choice. His final solo aria however, 'E Lucevan Le Stelle', is bold, technically demanding, and he sings it with skill and feeling. As for the other two tenors, their selections perfectly show off their range and skills as performers as well as singers. The first three solos are reflective and beautifully conducted by Mehta, but new fans to opera should not be put off by the fact that they may not have heard of these, because the second set of solos seem designed to capture and entertain the audience. Domingo's 'Granada' is fabulous - he really pours everything into it, he glows with passion and vigour. Pavarotti singing Ave Maria is an emotional highlight, demonstrating his talent for singing more gentle arias, as well as his more famous power and range in 'Nessun Dorma'. The final solo's are the three at their very best and most impressive. Domingo portrays a definite character and personality in 'Vesti la Giubba', breaking down the language barrier for viewers who are unfamiliar with the opera it is taken from. Pavarotti does not disappoint, concluding the solos with his famous rendition of Nessun Dorma, which can't fail to blow you away. The medleys and songs they sing together provide an extra level of enjoyment in that the three distinctly different personalities come across so effectively. They are playful and hugely entertaining, without an ego in sight.
And so, if the idea of sitting through 2 hours or so of opera is your idea of hell, or you have every three tenors album ever released, this will not disappoint you. For fans, this is a fabulous selection of old classics and more obscure arias, which showcase beautifully whoever your favourite might be. For those who are curious or have watched everything else in the video cupboard, you won't be able to help sensing the atmosphere in the venue. A few famous faces are there to be spotted in the crowd, and you might be surprised at how many songs you actually know and like, from classic musicals and around the world (e.g. All I ask of You, Brazil, America, Those Were the Days, Singing in the Rain).
The power and passion in the performances of all three will stir your memories and emotions, and the mind-blowing potential of the human voice is clear for experienced and amateur viewers alike.

The Huberman Festival / Pinchas Zuckerman, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Zubin Mehta, Israel Philharmonic

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The Huberman Festival / Pinchas Zuckerman, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Zubin Mehta, Israel Philharmonic
Starring: Various Artists
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: 70th Anniversary Concert
Dvorak in Prague - A Celebration / Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Frederica von Stade, Boston Symphony, Seizi Ozawa
A Piano Evening with Martha Argerich [DVD Video]
Gidon Kremer - Back to Bach
Nathan Milstein - In Portrait

ASIN: B000P6R71Y
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Description

Conceived as a music lover's dream, the Huberman Festival brought together the world's most illustrious violinists to play together for the first and only time with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Zubin Mehta.

BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat Major, S.1051
Pinchas Zukerman, Daniel Benyamini

VIVALDI: Concerto for Four Violins and Orchestra in B Minor, Op.3, No. 10
Pinchas Zukerman, Isaac Stern, Shlomo Mintz, Ida Haendel, Daniel Benyamini, Ivry Gitlis.

MENDELSSOHN: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Minor, Op. 64
Shlomo Mintz

BACH: Concerto for Two Violins and String Orchestra in D Minor, S.1043
Isaac Stern, Shlomo Mintz

VIVALDI: The Four Seasons
Pinchas Zukerman, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Shlomo Mintz

TCHAIKOVSKY: Concerto for Violins in D Major, Op. 35
Henryk Szeryng

VIVALDI: Concerto for Two Violins and String Orchestra in A Minor, Op. 3, No.8
Henryk Szeryng, Chaim Taub

MOZART: Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orch. in E Flat Maj. K.364
Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman

HANDEL: Passacaglia
Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman

Customer Reviews:

Consummate Musical Feast!.......2007-03-17

This is a perfect DVD for showing family or friends why you like "great singing."

This gala performance celebrates the 50th anniversary of the reopening of the Vienna State Opera--and they do it in a way they can be proud of.

At the beginning of several pieces, they intersperse photos of performances from 50 years ago with some of today's top performers in classic roles.

After the first solo--Ferrucio Furlanetto's rich voice and ultimate personification of Leporello in his "Madamina, il Catalogo e questo," from Don Giovanni, you think to yourself, "How is anyone going to equal the quality of this magic moment?" You don't have to wait even minutes: Edita Gruberova responds with Donna Anna's "Crudele?" in an exhibition of beautiful singing that would leave even Amadeus clapping like a seal. Yes, she gives us all a singing lesson. Applause brings down the house.

What else? There's the "Marie Theres" and "Ist ein Traum" of Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier, with Angelika Kirchschlager and Christian Thielemann drawing deserved thunderous applause. Again, you think to yourself, "How can the next singers equal this beautiful moment?" Bryn Terfel sings a Hans Sachs from Meistersinger, that leaves us praying that he might undertake that role in a performance soon.

There are many other items in this 2-DVD set, that are equally enjoyable. I was not familiar with Strauss' Die Frau Ohne Schatten (The Lady Without a Shadow), but Falk Struckmann's ebullient Barak left me ready to grab up anything by him, and also a copy of Frau Ohne Schatten. Perhaps the words from this scene from Frau Ohne Schatten sum up what your feeling is likely to be after watching this gala performance:

"Was there ever a feast at which we were not secretly always the guests, and also the hosts!"

Invite yourself--and some friends who enjoy great music--to this consummate musical feast!

Stupendous! What a Gala!.......2007-01-05

What a treat to get a 2-set DVD from the Vienna State Opera for the 50th Anniversary of the Reopening of the Opera House after it was destroyed by Allied Troops during the bombing of the city in World War II. I myself am very tired of Metropolitan Opera DVD releases (especially if Domingo is singing the tenor role, like are there anyone else? Though I am thinking of purchasing Verdi's LUISA MILLER with Renata Scotto,SANS the yelling audience member). Before you hurl your flaming spears at me, I like Mr. Domingo and he has been a tremendous asset in the world of opera but must he sing in every opera video release??? I digress.
Going back to this wonderful DVD. The sound,video quality,direction is gorgeous and opera video director Brian Large has outdone himself again. I posted a review on Opera-L about a few days after I received my delivery, somewhere late Sept. 2006.

Highlights for me:

1. The energetic conducting of Seiji Ozawa, the current musical director of the famed opera company particularly in the overture to Beethoven's FIDELIO, an opera I hold dear, since it addresses universal themes of liberty,fraternity and all that good stuff. I get goose bumps listening to the Soldier's Chorus and Leonore's upbeat singing. I was most fortunate to see Maestro Ozawa in Paris in November 1999 conducting at the Palais Garnier , the horrific yet beautiful opera of Poulenc, DIALOGUES DES CARMELITES (it was, oui, in French and what a treat to hear in the city and country of its native tongue).

2. La Prima Donna Assoluta of the House, Madame EDITA GRUBEROVA with that fantabulous diva gown of black satin with a lovely train (I am a fashionista but for the life of me, cannot fully and correctly describe in detail but will make attempts). The bodice has this plunging-like decoration of the decolletage of different colored sparkling jewels. Her rendition of Mozart's 'Non mi dir' from DON GIOVANNI, left me breathless. At her "ahem" certain biological age and state, she can float those notes so heavenly and a voice projection that is stately. Brava!

3. Violeta Urmana singing the Third Act Nile Scene from Verdi's AIDA in her "violent" and fierce-looking red satin gown and hon, it is thick and heavy and befitting for a big Gala with all those knowledgeable and rich Viennese looking at ya. I hope she can be our brand-new production of AIDA in Houston,Texas this April/May 20067, but oh well, she is very busy . I love her voice, heard her live in San Francisco in the French DON CARLO doing Eboli 3 years ago (her mezzo years). Her careful and exquisite treatment to the soft passages, particularly, reminiscing about her beloved Ethiopia with its lush forests and flowing rivers (one wonders which Ethiopia the Great Verdi had in mind or the librettist). Anyway, love it!

4. This gal, the Zerlina in the Don Giovanni segment,ILDIKO RAIMONDI (any relation to the other singer?)with her strong,bright and engaging sound. Plus, a stage presence that can stand with bigwigs like Ferrucio Furlanetto singing his signature role of Leporello and Thomas Hampson as DON GIOVANNI. As we say in the South, you go GURL!

5.Anything and everything that German conductor CHRISTIAN THIELEMANN does,for me, is like MANNA FROM HEAVEN (okay, okay, I will behave). I was lucky enough to be at the Met for the DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN, a sold out run if memory serves me right, 4 or 5 years ago and I cannot believe what my ears fed back to me. Overwhelming great sound he coaxed out from the Mighty Met Orchestra. Unbelievable. Listen and watch the Met ARABELLA (with Kiri Te Kanawa) on DVD and it is EXQUISITE. We will be so lucky if he travels to sub-tropical climates like the Bayou City to conduct. The Overture to Richard Wagner's comedy, DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NURNBERG, was grand,glorious, yet NIMBLE and flowing freely. Terrific. Also, Bryn Terfel as Hans Sachs is wonderful. Now I hope he doesn't jump into more Wotan roles yet. Build it up man.

6.The Chorus of the Vienna State Opera is a great jewel in the cultural crown of Vienna as well as its beloved Vienna Philharmonic, world-famous of course and yet it doubles as an opera band for the company even though it is already 'muy' busy with its orchestral and symphonic gigs.

7. Other stuff, like Agnes Baltsa singing Amneris was brave and full of raw energy (I don't care if they scream a bit since the role calls for such emotion and passion in the Judgement Scene of Verdi's opera); mezzo Christa Ludwig in white with fur trim supporting and acting as main cheerleader to the singers after they perform; I briefly saw Gundula Janowitz, but I only know her in oratorio and sacred music; yes, Placi was there, still looking dapper and singing good,etc.,etc. Congrats to the Vienna State Opera for another milestone (50 years post re-building, and more years of music and stuff) and,

8. Last but not the least, the Trio from Strauss's ROSENKAVALIER (Kirschlager as Octavian,Isokoski as the Marschallin and Genia Kuhmeier as Sophie) was okay BUT then I have heard such heavenly trios and duets from previous Met Radio broadcasts like the 1986 one with Kathleen Battle as Sophie,Tatiana Troyanos as Octavian and Gwyneth Jones as the Feldmarschallin so it is soooo hard to FUMIGATE the lovely echoing notes that have resided out of my mind. I call it the CALLAS SYNDROME. You listen to her "La Mamma Morta" from Andrea Chenier and you will never ever want to hear another soprano sing that. Same with Norma,Lucia,or even TURANDOT. I've ranted and raved much, forgive me and with thanks for reading this review.

BUY IT, support the production of opera DVD's, so we don't have to travel and spend lots of money. Thanks.

VS

p.s.- I hope more good opera DVD releases from Europe come out. I wonder who will be the videotaped Radames in the new La Scala AIDA. Did Roberto Alagna come back? I haven't been in touch with the local grapevine lately.

It's a family thing.......2006-10-31

This a concert I saw on PBS last month, and I'm astonished to see it on sale so fast. It is the best DVD concert I've encountered, as it featured many singers I'd lost track of, and was happy to see they are still around and performing. Some of them I've seen in opera performances, Angelika Kirschlager, for instance, made her US debut at Seattle Opera.

I'm buying two copies, mine, plus one for my aunt, who was in State department and stationed in Vienna and Salsburg during late 40s and early 50s. I remember her telling of going to the "big opera" for a dollar, and the little opera for 55 cents. The senior singers interviewed in this DVD are persons she HAD to have seen sing, in their prime.

Vienna State Opera Gala, 50th Anniversary.......2006-09-21

This is the DVD I wanted. However, had it not been for your one review detailing the contents of the video--- I would have still been looking as I was not sure if this was the one I viewed on television. It is a beautiful performance which I believe will be enjoyed by all. Thank you, reviewer, for helping out!

A Real Gala with More Stars Than You Can Count.......2006-02-20

On November 5, 2005 the Vienna State Opera held a gala to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the reopening on November 5, 1955 of the Opera after its destruction by Allied bombs in 1945 followed by the ten-year-long reconstruction. They pulled out all the stops and had a cast of stars (as well as current stalwarts of the Opera): five conductors (Ozawa, Gatti, Mehta, Thielemann and Welser-Möst) and such luminaries as Domingo, Baltsa, Gruberova, Hampson, Terfel and Kirchschlager, as well as the fabulous Opera chorus and the Vienna Philharmonic. The gala featured scenes from six of the seven operas given new productions in that 1955 season -- Don Giovanni, Der Rosenkavalier, Aida, Meistersinger, Frau ohne Schatten and Fidelio. The whole thing lasted over three hours (and takes up two DVDs), was produced by the redoubtable Brian Large and shown on Austrian television. Here we are only four months later with this beautifully produced package that preserves that evening's performances. It seems that these special occasions make it to DVD more and more quickly.

Since Amazon has not as of the date of this review listed the scenes and arias presented, I shall do so in slightly synopsized form, listing the participants as I go.

Beethoven's Leonore No. 3 Overture with Ozawa conducting. A moderately interesting performance. The VPO sound wonderful here, though, and throughout the evening.

Don Giovanni: Madamina, il catalogo (Ferruccio Furlanetto as Leporello); Non mi dir (Edita Gruberova as Donna Anna); Finch'han dal vino (Thomas Hampson as Giovanni); Act I finale (with Hampson, Ildik Raimondi as a fabulous Zerlina, Boaz Daniel as Masetto, Soile Isokoski as Donna Elvira, Gruberova as Donna Anna, Michael Schade as Ottavio, and Furlanetto as Leporello). Furlanetto was great, Gruberova was tired-sounding, Hampson's aria wonderful but the finale never did quite catch fire. Mehta conducting.

Der Rosenkavalier: The final trio (Hab mir's gelobt) and duet (Ist ein Traum) with Angelika Kirchschlager as Octavian, Soile Isokoski as Marschallin, and Genia Kohmeier as Sophie. One couldn't ask for a better performance. I'd never heard of Kohmeier but she's definitely a comer.

Aida: The entire Nile Scene with Furlanetto as Ramfis, Nadia Krasteva as Amneris, Violeta Urmana as Aida, Franz Grundheber as Amonasro, Johan Botha as Radams. Urmana and Botha outstanding. Followed by the Act IV, Scene 1 duet with Amneris and Radams (Baltsa and Domingo). This is how it was meant to be done. All conducted by Daniele Gatti, a rising star.

Die Meistersinger: Overture (led by Christian Thielemann and quite exciting). The Flieder-Monolog sung by Bryn Terfel as Sachs -- an incredible performance. It got the biggest individual applause of the evening. This was followed by the Wach auf chorus from Act III, the VPO chorus sounding incredible. All led by Thielemann.

Die Frau ohne Schatten (led by Franz Welser-Möst). Mir anvertraut sung by Falk Struckmann as Barak and Deborah Polaski as the Dyer's Wife. Polaski not quite warmed up and a little squally. Finale of Act III with Botha as Kaiser, Ricarda Merbeth as Kaiserin and six comprimarii as The Unborn). Excellent.

Fidelio: Finale from Act II. Chorus again sounding fabulous. Hampson as Fernando, Walter Fink as Rocco, Struckmann as Pizarro, Deborah Polaski as Leonore (and sounding much, much better than a little earlier), Raimondi as Marzelline, Johan Botha as a marvelous Florestan, Herwig Pecoraro as Jaquino. A fitting finale for the evening. One can never hear this finale without being moved.

Visually and sonically this is a first class production. Subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish. Sound: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS 5.1. Total time (2 DVDs): 188 mins. No extras.

Recommended for those who might want to hear these artists in this exciting gala format.

Scott Morrison

Puccini - Turandot at the Forbidden City of Beijing / Mehta, Casolla, Larin, Frittoli, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Average customer rating:

B-list cast in stunt production
No Chinese Singers??
Not Bad, but not great either
Puccini's Turandot live from Peking. Finally!
Avoid this turkey

Puccini - Turandot at the Forbidden City of Beijing / Mehta, Casolla, Larin, Frittoli, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Starring: Giovanna Casolla , Sergej Larin , Barbara Frittoli , Carlo Colombara , and José Fardilha
Director: Ruth Käch , and Hugo Käch
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Turandot Project
Puccini - Tosca / Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Ruggero Raimondi, David Cangelosi, Antonio Pappano, Royal Opera
Puccini - Turandot / Franco Zeffirelli - Marton, Domingo, Mitchell, Plishka, Cuenod - James Levine, MET (1988)
Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxell
Puccini - Il Trittico (Il Tabarro / Suor Angelica / Gianni Schicchi) / Gavazzeni, La Scala

ASIN: B00000IBVC
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Amazon.com

The first DVD edition of Puccini's last opera (left not quite complete at his death) immediately becomes the best available in any video format. It is likely to keep this status for quite a while, though the music comes across more powerfully in several audio-only editions.

The visual challenges of Turandot are formidable, and they are met spectacularly in this production, filmed on location in the Forbidden City, where the story takes place. Turandot is a princess to die for. Dozens of foreign princes have literally lost their heads after seeking her hand in marriage and failing to solve three riddles. Ideally, a Turandot should have the voice of Birgit Nilsson, she should have the looks and acting skills of Teresa Stratas in her prime, and it's nice if she at least appears Chinese. Soprano Giovanna Casolla scores a B-plus on these requirements, and that's about the best we can expect. Among other principals, tenor Sergej Larin sings well, looks right, and doesn't really try to act (probably a wise decision). Soprano Barbara Frittoli is superb and the supporting cast is generally good. But what makes this production unique is the setting; you are there in ancient Peking, with its real buildings, flags, armor and uniforms, costumes, and statues of dragons and other legendary monsters.

This is one of the first operas intended for original release on DVD; others were initially issued in more limited formats and have kept their original limitations in the new format. The wider range of options on DVD is significant. Those who will settle for audio-only recordings, which cost about the same and offer much less, should try either of Birgit Nilsson's CD editions (with Björling or Corelli) or Joan Sutherland's. Both of these great divas are, alas, visually inappropriate, offering another argument for this striking visual re-creation. --Joe McLellan.

Customer Reviews:

B-list cast in stunt production.......2007-02-23

Nine years down the road, this production strikes me as neither particularly good nor particularly bad.

In performance quality, it is typical of the sort of thing one sees from second-string companies, such as--alas!--my own local company, the Vancouver opera. The cast--satisfactory enough for that level--is resolutely, steadfastly B-list, with Frittoli perhaps aspiring to B+ status.

Considering that this is as much a circus as it is an opera, concerns about the quality of conducting are largely irrelevant.

In production values, this "Turandot" holds some interest, but primarily as a stunt and little more. It is a production transplanted from the Florence May Festival, a well-regard and respectable source. That being said, I, for one, would bet that everything about it had worked better in Florence than any of it did amid all the foofraw in Peking.

Except for the sheer spectacle of it all, this should not be anyone's first choice for "Turandot" on DVD.

No Chinese Singers??.......2006-08-02

I was disappointed to find that all of the singers in this production were European. Surely there are some Chinese opera singers who could have taken part and made it seem more realistic. I agree with those who have said they preferred the Placido Domingo/Eva Marton production. Marton was a much better Turandot than Casolla, who I thought was too old for the role. Frittoli's Liu was beautifully done, but I agree her costume was too elaborate for a slave. Leona Mitchell was a much more believable Liu. However, since this version was not made in China, I didn't expect the singers to be Chinese. I found the dancers in the long white robes puzzling. What were they supposed to represent? The use of a small Chinese woman as the executioner was startling and not particularly effective. I would have preferred the chorus to be hidden, and the crowd to look like the Chinese peasants they were supposed to be. However, on the whole, the music and the singing were beautifully done.

Not Bad, but not great either.......2006-02-21

This production has some pluses and some drawbacks.

First the pluses.
The costumes in this production are radiant and colorful. Very vivid and indeed opulent looking.
The setting from Beijing makes the opera even more exotic in nature.

Now for the negatives
Both the soprano and the tenor singing the role of Turandot and Calaf only did a so-so job in my opinion. The soprano is underpowered and sounded very strained especially during the "grido" and the riddle scene, which is not an ideal Turandot since this is the most exciting part of the opera. The tenor is also underpowered. Not only that, he makes some weird facial expressions when he was singing which I find very distracting. Although the costumes were good I don't think some of them are appropriate. Calaf was not suppose to be Chinese yet his costume was Chinese looking. As to the slave girl Lui's costumes, again it was too chinese and looks too ravishing to be a slave girl's outfit.

Overall not a turkey, but there are better productions out there especially in the singing department. Try the MET production with Eva Marton in video/DVD or buy the Sutherland or Nillson set in CD. For one of the best "In Questa Reggia" ever sung, try Dame Eva Turner's version.

Puccini's Turandot live from Peking. Finally!.......2005-09-25

Puccini would be thrilled with this vast film production of his durable and spectacular opera Turandot. Top notch voices filled the enormous Imperial Palace staging. Costumes were authentic and brilliant in detail. Most of the extras were Chinese nationality. Enjoy this and then ask for the DVD film on The Making of Turandot which tells the lengthy tale of the first concept for bringing the Italian production to China for filming and then the unending modifications in order to present an authentic setting. It is a total experience and brilliant throughout.

Avoid this turkey.......2004-05-06

For a long time I avoided buying this DVD, fearing that it would be like the football stadium Aidas that you see here and there: "Cast of thousands! Horses and elephants! Truly spectacular!" Finally, after getting all the other Turandot DVDs, I broke down and bought this one. Unfortunately, I was right -- this is just a circus.

The musical values are actually not all that bad, but they are overwhelmed by the colossally bad production values. All the action is set in the midst of a vast plaza in which no one ever would expect an opera to be set. The cinematography specializes in displaying "look how big this is!" Scene after scene is shot from afar, over the heads or shoulders of a huge audience, presumably to show us how big the square is in Peking, how many people are attending, and how enormously clever the producers are to have arranged this. The opera itself is largely overlooked in the rush to be with it.

Customer Reviews:

What a way to start a new year!.......2007-07-07

Into the ornately decorated oblong concert hall, said to have the best acoustics in the world, 2000 well-dressed patrons crowded on New Year's Day 2007 to enjoy the annual New Year Vienna Philharmonic Concert - the conductor Zubin Mehta. As usual the event was telecast throughout the world. Also on hand were a team of DGG camera and recording personnel, and the result is this splendid DVD.

On the program are 5 items apiece by brothers Johann and Josef Strauss, 4 by their father, 1 by their brother Eduard, and 2 by Josef Hellmesberger. Of the Johann items I especially welcome the waltz "Wo die Zitronen bluhn", apparently a favorite also of Zubin Mehta. "I love this piece," he said, "and I've never done it before with the `Wiener'." 2 of the Josef Strauss waltzes included, with their dramatic introductions, have long been favorites with conductors, as has Johann's best overture - "Waldmeister" Overture.

Mehta's way with waltzes is to hold back the pulse ("rattenuto" in Italian) each time the opening refrain occurs. With all items, also, he tends to cut off the final chord a split second early.

At least one item provides some enjoyable badinage between conductor and players. Mehta conducts throughout without scores. The DVD provides, as an extra, members of the Vienna State Opera and Volksoper Ballet in ballet versions of two of the waltzes. Another extra features various Austrian wind ensembles performing in beautiful Austrian park and mountain settings. One ensemble performs on a raft floating down the Danube.

NEVER TO BE MISSED.......2007-03-13

Mehta, thanks for your very nice performance.
Wiener Philarmoniker, thanks you all for your usual and annual super-performance.
The concert is the meaning of my every year-beginning..
Strongly recommended to everybody. Never to be missed.

One of the finest New Year's Eve Concerts in Recent Memory.......2007-02-27

Without a doubt, this year's New Year's Eve concert (broadcast on PBS here in the United States) was among the finest I've heard from the Wiener Philharmoniker in recent memory. Much to my amazement, Zubin Mehta was truly magnificient in leading the orchestra in lesser known waltzes, polkas and other dances composed by the Strauss family, with most of the concert devoted to the works of Johann Strauss and Josef Strauss. He truly demonstrated much empathy for the music, leading the orchestra in passionate, quite memorable, performances (I had also forgotten how superb a conductor Mehta truly is, and this concert was a splendid reminder of his superb talent as one of our foremost conductors of classical music.). It's reasonable to state that this concert merely reaffirms recent critical praise the Wiener Philharmoniker has received from a French magazine which listed this orchestra as Europe's finest; clearly the overall quality of the Wiener Philharmoniker's musicianship is exceptional, which this fine DVD merely emphasizes both sonically and visually. From a musicological perspective, the 2007 concert was as intriguing as Nikolaus Harnoncourt's two New Year's Concert series held earlier in this decade, in which the venerable Austrian musicologist and conductor did a fine job in clearing the cobwebs of some of the Strauss family's best known works, and introducing audiences to other elegant, but lesser known, works of theirs. Zubin Mehta apparently adhered to Harnoncourt's philosophy too, with ample popular acclaim earned from the Musikverein's spellbound audience. True to tradition, the concert concluded with a New Year greeting from Maestro Mehta spoken in immaculate, flawless German, followed by the traditional encores of Johann Strauss Jr.'s Blue Danube Waltz and his father's Radetzky March.

Excited to get the CD!! Waiting for the DVD..........2007-01-29

I was so excited to see the CD as I toured around Japan during the weekend of my trip here. No second thought, took it to the cashier without thinking the exchange rate at all! The package has not been opened yet as the speakers on my computer are really lousy. Don't want to ruin the music.

I am surprised the album is released so early this year, still recall I got last year's in March in Hong Kong. Now, I am waiting for the DVD to release.

The Broadcast Was Fun!.......2007-01-10

The DVD release is still many weeks away, so this is a comment on the New Year's PBS broadcast. The 2007 concert with Zubin Mehta was one of the best in recent years. (2002 with Seiji Ozawa was also unusually satisfying, with a program of lesser-known pieces by the Strausses and Friends.) I used to record these broadcasts, but now I prefer to pay for the DVD versions, which usually have several huge plusses: (1) no over-the-hill Walter Cronkite or other smarmy Celebrity Host to dumb everything down for us American yokels; (2) much more natural musical dynamics, without the broadcast gain-riding that wipes out the loud parts; (3) removal of the dance numbers to an intermission feature instead of the intrusive cutting-away of the broadcast; and (4) (maybe?) no PBS end credits, which, in the broadcast, scroll before our tired eyes interminable rosters of PBS administrators (though way too fast to read!).

Mehta, an old Vienna hand who appears to be enjoying a musical rebirth in this late stage of his career, conducts with spirit and mirth, and the inimitable Vienna Philharmonic responds with gusto and its usual creamy tone. Like Ozawa's, the selections favor lesser-known waltzes, marches, and polkas over the war-horses, but, in case you're concerned, the Blue Danube and the Radetzky March occupy their traditional spot at the end.

Christopher Nupen - We Want the Light / Vladimir Ashkenazy, Daniel Barenboim, Evgeny Kissin, Zubin Mehta, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman

Average customer rating:

European Jewish Cultural Assimilation
An Excellent Documentary on Modern European History
Great documentary about the affects of the nazism.

Christopher Nupen - We Want the Light / Vladimir Ashkenazy, Daniel Barenboim, Evgeny Kissin, Zubin Mehta, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman
Starring: Mahler , and Schubert
Director: Gurzenich Orchestra of Cologne
Manufacturer: BBC / Opus Arte
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Schubert: Greatest Love & Greatest Sorrow
Jacqueline du Pre In Portrait
Sibelius: Early Years/Maturity & Silence
Andres Segovia: In Portrait
Evgeny Kissin: The Gift of Music

ASIN: B00066K2QK
Release Date: 2005-01-18

Customer Reviews:

European Jewish Cultural Assimilation.......2007-05-14

This is a masterly and comprehensive account of how the Jewish people, living in German speaking Europe, first found cultural freedom and high hopes of being totally assimilated by their host nations. Particularly in Music they became pre-eminent, from Felix Mendelssohn, through Meyerbeer to Mahler, Schoenberg and the Second Viennese School. These hopes perished in the Shoah and it was MUSIC, which the survivors interviewed in this Film claim, gave them the courage and strength to survive in the Death Camps.

An Excellent Documentary on Modern European History.......2006-06-05

An interesting DVD on the cultural origin of Nazism, going back to the dominance of Prussia, the Protestents and hence modern Germany. It touches upon Mendelssohn focussing on Wagner, ending on Mahler and Schoenberg.

In this film, some of the survivors of the concentration camp-- mostly musicians including a 98 years old lady pianist ( how she reminds me of Horszowski), a violinist and a cellist etc-- talk about their horrifying experience while the screen flashes back onto some pictures of gas chamber rooms full of naked dead bodies of both genders...

The survivors are of course highly cultivated people all speaking very cultured German, with quite a proportion of them changed to and fro into English without noticing it, and neither would the audience as their English are literally perfect. And not withstanding their culture and gracefulness, the imports, however down played, would nonetheless make your hair raise.

And yes, we also have Zukerman telling us about the Jewish way of living, things like they have more music than eating even in a feast! Barenboim expressed his deep distaste for Nazism and Ashkennazy rather mechanically (& I prefer Karajan on this score) conducted a German orchestra, with Kissin playing a piece by Brahms. This is by far more a documentary than a musical production and Nupen is, as usual, a great narrator.

Great documentary about the affects of the nazism........2006-02-07

In the last 60 years we have been watching lot of documents about the effects of the nazi regime that governed Germany in the years just before the World War II. Between the most disappointing things we have to mention the jewish repression and extermination, that took place in different cities of Germany and those countries they conquest, like Poland specially.

This documentary tries to review not only the jew extermination and killing in central Europe but the repression of another minor groups of different ethnic origin, like those who came from the countries under German power or the artists and intellectuals whom were part of Nazis targets.

A very interesting thing in this DVD is the revision of Wagner's works and ideas about the jews, something that creates always a great debate and that it's very well focused here from different points of view. Probably this is the most interesting thing from the point of view of history and musicology in the DVD. From the point of view of the confidences of the human beings who knew the Nazi repression the DVD is a jewel, because it offers the interviews with people who experimented the concentration camps for a long time, in which they took notice of quite all that happened to them. They talk about the musical life during that period, something that always takes our attention in a kind of situation like that. Kissin, Barenboim, Mehta and meny other musicians, most of them jew or with very deep relation with Israel or the jew community, talk in this DVD, much more than playing music. This is a DVD for listening people to talk about some of the most dark days of our history, some of the most disappointing chapters of the last century.

Like all the Nupen's films, the quality is very high in all the aspects; the script is great, the interviews very well done, searching for important replies and letting the survivers to talk, the film edition is really fantastic, like the images they have from archives and from nowadays. Sound is very good too and the general impression is that of being watching a very sensitive and well done documentary about people and fear, about music in that situation, but from a very humanistic point of view.

It's very important not to forget this... to know the past in order to don't repeat the mistakes we did as society.

Gran Gala di Verdi / Alvarez, Carreras, Devia, Jose Cura, Raimondi, Domingo, Dessi, Matos, Frittoli, Nucci, Scalchi, Mehta, Maggio Musicale Opera

Average customer rating:

Exceptional Verdi Singing......Particulary the Tenors!
Simply Superb!
A Grand Verdi Gala from Italy

Gran Gala di Verdi / Alvarez, Carreras, Devia, Jose Cura, Raimondi, Domingo, Dessi, Matos, Frittoli, Nucci, Scalchi, Mehta, Maggio Musicale Opera
Starring: Marcelo Alvarez , Daniela Dessi , Jose Carreras , Ruggero Raimondi , and Jose Cura
Manufacturer: Euroarts
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Vienna State Opera Gala Concert / Domingo, Terfel, Gruberova, Urmana, Hampson, Baltsa, Kirchschlager, Polaski, Struckmann, Schade, Furlanetto
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Operafest - Gala Concert at the Zurich Opera / Carreras, Freni, Hampson, Popp, Kraus, Jones, Zampieri, Ghiaurov

ASIN: B0007ORDNQ
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional Verdi Singing......Particulary the Tenors!.......2005-08-29

These sort of gala's rarely come together so well. More often than not, there are a couple of singers who are just not up to par with the others, or perhaps the selections chosen to be performed just don't cut it. Luckily, those don't seem to be issues here.
This performance, recorded in Parma in March of 2001 is quite simply flawless. Were I pressed to find one negative, I guess it would be that I wish there was more. It would have been wonderful to hear selections from ERNANI, LUISA MILLER and SIMON BOCCANEGRA. But what we have here on two DVD's is some of the finest Verdi singing in recent memory.
While there are wonderful sopranos, mezzos, baritones and the incomparable Ruggero Raimondi on bass (singing a showstopping "Ella Giammai M'amo" from DON CARLO), the tenors were the real stars here.
Placido Domingo, though featured in only two selections, is in great form. He sings quite well in the finale to IL TROVATORE and all but steals the show (not surprisingly) with his deeply moving "Nium Mi Tema" from OTELLO.
I was actually quite surprised at how good Jose Carreras sounded, particularly in the beautiful trio from JERUSALEM and the finale to UN BALLO IN MASCHERA. While his voice is well past its prime, he still manages to muster up plenty of passion and emotion.
Perhaps the biggest revelation for me was Jose Cura. Though he was average during the trio from IL TROVATORE, his ACT I duet from OTELLO with Barbara Frittoli is one of the finest I have heard. It's wonderful to have a tenor who actually attempts to sound romantic when he sings "un bacio," as opposed to most, who simply shout it out like it's a battle cry.
The real star of the evening, though, is Zubin Mehta. His proves himself to be a Verdi conductor of the highest caliber and, as always, seems to be really enjoying himself.
If you are a fan of great Verdi singing, or just great singing in general, then you will most surely enjoy this wonderful DVD.

Simply Superb!.......2005-05-10

I will underscore what reviewer Morrison said. This a must have for Verdi fans. Frankly, I hesitated before buying it: I am not a big fan of Placido Domingo, and I thought that Jose Carreras would not do well, because his voice is showing its age. While I liked Ruggero Raimondi, I have not seen him onstage for several years.

However ... there were no disappointments in this performance. Everyone sang well and Maestro Mehta delivered superb interpretations. The spoken introductions were superfluous, in my opinion, but not enough to diminish my rating of this 2 disc set. The idea of starting with Nabucco and proceeding from early to late Verdi was a great one.

The discs demonstrate perhaps better than any single opera does the breadth of Verdi's genius and melodic talent.

Picture quality is first rate, and the option of 5.1 sound means tht you can also entertain the neighbors. Subtitles work well and the translations are pretty accurate.

I recommend this one without reservation.

A Grand Verdi Gala from Italy.......2005-03-14

In March 2001 a grand Verdi gala commemorating the 100th anniversary of the composer's death and featuring some of the best-known singers in world was presented at the Teatro Padiglione Padacassa in Parma. Zubin Mehta conducted the orchestra and chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and accompanied such singers as Plácido Domingo, José Cura, José Carreras, Marcelo Álvarez (what is it with the current and former dominance of Hispanic tenors?--and this list doesn't even include Rolando Villazon!), the glorious sopranos Daniela Dessì and Barbara Frittoli, and stalwarts such as Ruggero Raimondi and Leo Nucci as well as relative unknowns (in the US) Elisabete Matos, Luciana D'Intino, Mariella Devía, Gloria Schalcchi, Cinzia Rizzone, Riccardo Zanellato, Konstantin Gorny, Rossana Rinadli and Gianluca Floris.

The program was arranged with selections from Verdi operas in the order in which they were written, beginning with 'Va, pensiero' from 'Nabucco,' and then, in order, selections from Jérusalem, Il corsaro, Rigoletto, Il trovatore, La traviata, Un ballo in maschera, La forza del destino, Don Carlo, Aïda, Otello, and Falstaff. Three hours of glorious music! Each selection was introduced (in Italian, of course, but with idiomatically translated subtitles) by various of the singers, with some sometimes witty and other times trivial commentary about the piece to be heard next. (One funny bit, in the second half, had the line-up of singers illustrating from an 18th-century textbook on acting various methods of portraying emotions such as 'love' (Ruggero Raimondi and Barbara Frittoli hamming it up), 'hypocrisy,' 'jealousy, etc.)

At the time this review was written Amazon had not yet included the contents of these two DVDs and I will not do that as it is too lengthy. But I will comment on some of the highlights. On the first CD, which takes us through 'Ballo,' I was particularly impressed with Cura singing 'La donna è mobile' from 'Rigoletto' followed by the Quartet with Mariella Devía, Gloria Schalcchi, Marcelo Álvaro and Leo Nucci, although I must say that Nucci was barking a bit. The entire finale of 'Trovatore' was terrific (Domingo, Schalcchi, Frittoli). Mariella Devía sang 'Ah, fors' è lui' and 'Sempre libera' thrillingly but with some approximate coloratura. Leo Nucci's 'Eri tu' from 'Ballo' was fairly humdrum, I have to say, but the final scene with Carreras as Riccardo, Nucci as Renato, Matos as Amelia, Rizzone as Oscar, and Zanellato and Gorny as Tom and Samuel was moving.

The second CD's music begins with what for me is the most exciting singing of the evening, Daniela Dessì's 'Pace, pace, o mio dio' from 'La forza'--simply stunning! And this is followed by another thrilling performance, Luciana D'Intino's 'O don fatale' from 'Don Carlo.' Mio dio! And then--get this!--another blockbuster: Barbara Frittoli singing 'Ritorna vincitor'...'Numi, pietà' from 'Aïdo.' Holy moley! These three performances are followed by the entire finale (Triumphal Scene) of Act II of Aïda with Dessì, D'Intino (Amneris), Cura, Nucci (Amonasro), Raimondi (The King), Zanellato (a young basso to watch as Ramfis) and, of course, the chorus.

The huge Aïda scene is followed by the quiet, rapturous 'Già nella notte densa' from 'Otello' sung by Cura and Frittoli. (This is a good place to put in praise for the cello section of the Maggio Musicale orchestra, since the love duet has that gorgeous celli divisi introduction. The principal's solo for 'Ella giammai m'amo' was also marvelous.) Cura sounds a bit callow at the beginning of the duet, but when Frittoli comes in things get better and Cura's voice begins to bloom. I was weeping by the end. This is followed then by the 21-minute Act IV finale of 'Otello' from 'Ave Maria' (after the Willow Song) through a glorious 'Niun mi tema' to the end, the heart-breaking 'Un altro bacio' and Otello's death. In this segment the Otello is Domingo, a signature role if ever there was one, and the thrilling Desdemona is Daniela Dessì. What can I say? By the end I was weeping again. I was thankful that the next piece was 'Tutta nel mundo è burla' from 'Falstaff' (with all the evening's soloists participating) which serves to lighten the atmosphere and allow me to dry my tears. Thunderous applause, richly deserved, followed by an encore, ending as we began with 'Va, pensiero.'

2 CDs. TT=182 mins. Sound: DD 5.1 or PCM stereo. Subtitles: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian. Extra: A slide show of stills from the concert. Crisp visuals, expertly edited. Sound is good, but tends to favor the singers so that one sometimes misses some things going on in the excellent orchestra.

If you're a Verdi fan, you are going to want this set. Trust me on this.

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating:

I LIKE THIS MOVIE
I DO NOT BELIEVE,THAT MOVIE HE MADE
it is my favor
Interesting Topic, Dull Documentary
My mother's favorite Puccini

The Turandot Project
Starring: Yimou Zhang , Audrey Stottler , Barbara Hendricks , Zubin Mehta , and Giovanna Casolla
Director: Allan Miller (II)
Manufacturer: Zeitgeist Films
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Puccini - Turandot at the Forbidden City of Beijing / Mehta, Casolla, Larin, Frittoli, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
The Story of Qiu Ju
Not One Less
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ASIN: B00005Y79N
Release Date: 2002-05-28

Description

In 1997, Oscar-winning documentarian Allan Miller (THE BOLERO, FROM MAO TO MOZART) embarked on a film project with renowned conductor Zubin Mehta and celebrated Chinese film director Zhang Yimou (RAISE THE RED LANTERN, HOUSE OF THE FLYING DAGGERS) as they joined forces in a production of Puccini's opera Turandot in Florence. Before the year was out, an extraordinary opportunity arose: to stage Turandot in its original setting in the Forbidden City of Beijing. The outdoor production was an undertaking on an epic scale-including the expansion of the site with the construction of huge new sets, the creation of breathtaking hand-sewn Ming Dynasty costumes and the adding of hundreds of soldiers and local extras, to lend a lavish authenticity to the staging. A fascinating chronicle of an unprecedented cross-cultural collaboration, THE TURANDOT PROJECT combines the pageantry of this opulent opera production with a spectacular cinematic portrait of the struggles and triumphs of Zubin Mehta and Zhang Yimou to mount their production in this most historic venue of China.

Customer Reviews:

I LIKE THIS MOVIE.......2004-03-07

I LOVE IT , I LIKE IT ,AS SAME AS MY GIRLFRIEND.

I DO NOT BELIEVE,THAT MOVIE HE MADE.......2004-03-07

ZHANG YIMOU ONE OF THE BEST DIRECTOR IN THE WORLD,I WERE VERY SUPERISE FROM HIM.THIS MOVIE YOU MUST TO SEE.

it is my favor.......2004-02-19

you have to see this movie ,that could make you cry.

Interesting Topic, Dull Documentary.......2003-06-10

There are so many facets to the events being described here that it's almost incredible how dull this documentary is. While they mention in passing that there are tensions between the Chinese government and the director of the opera, we never see any of that play out and it's never mentioned again. Similarly, we're told that this is a huge cultural event for China, to have such a lavish production of Turandot performed in Beijing, but we don't really see that reaction, aside from two or three very brief comments near the end.

Then there are the tensions amongst the people putting the production together. Again, these are casually brought up, but there's no follow-through.

Instead of following any of these potentially fascinating threads, the makers of the documentary instead show us footage of people walking through China, an opera singer complaining to someone we've never seen before that the hat she's supposed to wear looks stupid, etc. The whole documentary seems to lack any kind of focus.

Several weeks ago, I saw "Moon Over Broadway" which is a documentary about the making of a musical (starring Carol Burnett). While the staging of an opera in Beijing is much more potentially interesting to me than a musical with Carol Burnett, "Moon Over Broadway" was a far more successful documentary than "Turandot Project" because it actually managed to get behind the scenes and to develop some of its ideas. There was an actual story taking place and we got to know several of the people involved in the production and we were able to experience their frustrations and conflicts. By the end of "Turandot Project," by way of contrast, I felt like I had nothing invested in any of the people involved and had no real sense of who they were or why they were there or why this was important.

"Turandot Project" isn't really worth your time unless you're a huge opera fan and willing to sit through a lot of pointless footage that's been slapped together at random.

My mother's favorite Puccini.......2002-11-18

Although "Turandot" was always my mother's favorite Puccini opera and, as a result, I grew up listening to it, I never quite understood it as I understood the other "simpler" works like Butterfly and Tosca (my personal favorite). But when I saw "The Turandot Project" on the Sundance channel this morning, all of a sudden everything became clear and I rushed to the computer to find the DVD.

While the production itself is spectacular (300 extras, 50 ballet dancers, a contortionist from the Beijing Opera, and 300 soldiers from the local Chinese Army garrison), the documentary of what was involved in making the production actually happen is fascinating. I counted at least four languages (English, Italian, and Mandarin for most, but let's not forget the Viennese sound director with his own Mandarin/German translator) and a nearly unlimited number of egos.

At the end of the documentary, while we hear Puccini's gorgeous music, the film cuts between the the actual production and the earlier shots of the various problems and rehearsals. I swear, watching that, I got actual goosebumps.

Description

One of the most honored films of its time and winner of an Academy Award, The Bolero captures the essence of an orchestra as Zubin Mehta conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a stellar performance of Ravel's classic. Viewers gain insights into the music, the workings of a great orchestra, and leadership style and teamwork, all by observing a worldrenowned conductor in rehearsal and performance with a worldclass orchestra. In Search of Cezanne is an exploration of the life and legacy of 19th century French painter Paul Cézanne, as seen through the eyes of a young female documentary filmmaker who is just discovering his work. Traveling from New York to Paris and Cézanne's hometown in the south of France, meeting scholars and family of Cézanne at each stop, her journey is a satisfying inquiry into artistic expression and its appreciation. America's finest music documentarian, Allan Miller has produced films involving some of the most important musical events of the last two decades. He has made 35 documentaries about music, two of which have won Academy Awards - The Bolero, and From Mao To Mozart: Isaac Stern in China - plus an Emmy-winning documentary about classical violinist Itzhak Perlman. He also directed Small Wonders, which received an Academy Award nomination and was subsequently made into the feature length movie Music of the Heart, starring Meryl Streep.

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