Puccini - Turandot / Franco Zeffirelli - Marton, Domingo, Mitchell, Plishka, Cuenod - James Levine, MET
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46 Customer Reviews Posted
- Yes.
- I am new to opera. The only opera I have seen has been on DVD (The Met's complete Der Ring des Nibelungen, Bayreuth's centenary productions of Das Rheingold and Die Walkure, and the Salzburger Festspiele's production of Turandot), but this production of Turandot had me enthralled. After a hideous production from the Salzburger Festpiele, the only reason I purchased this was to hear Placido Domingo's "Nessun dorma", and also to see a comparative production before I dismissed the opera.
Although I am a newcomer, I would say that this has to be opera at it's best, because I can't imagine anything much more entertaining.
The sets were amazing. The singing was amazing. I would have to give the acting a four of five stars, but it really didn't detract from the production since the singing was so expressive. This was a very special viewing for me, not only because it was great in it's own right, but because it made me appreciate what I had previous thought was a boring opera because of the other production I had viewed.
It turns out Ping, Pang, and Pong do not have to be annoying and negligable. In this production they are funny and well rounded - some of the best acting in this production.
I felt that the chorus in the previous production was obnoxious and poorly coreographed (sp?), but here they shine and contribute to many of the opera's most dramatic and touching moments.
While I still think the story develops too quickly at the opening of Act I, which, in the first production I had seen made Liu's suicide seem trite and superficial, here, her strong performance throughout the opera makes her eventual death truly devestating (I also felt her final curtain call was humble, tasteful, and I was really moved by it - she also seemed truly moved by the audiences enthusiasm).
Before, I thought Turandot was a static character, and her turn around at the end of the opera on the previous DVD seemed like a crowd pleaser and uninspired. In this Met production, I felt Eva Marton's Turandot was well performed, well considered, and well rounded. The acting was shakey at parts, but her voice really was magnificent. Masterful.
Of course, Domingo's Calaf was wonderful. The "Nessun dorma" I purchased this DVD for was wonderful, but if I were to find another production of this opera on DVD, I would bet everything that I will never hear a better Calaf. Placido Domingo truly is a star. In his tenor I hear infinite depths. Really, really, really, really wonderful.
So...it it's not clear already...please buy this DVD. It has inspired a true interest in opera for me, and from now on, I feel I will judge the quality of any opera I see by whether or not it stirs my emotions the way viewing this DVD has. - 2005-12-27, 19 of 19 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- The Ultimate Visual Turandot
- Deutsche Grammophne produces first-class opera and classical music on recording and DVD and this 1988 performance of Turandot from the Met is visually the best. It stars Eva Marton in the title role, Placido Domingo as Prince Calaf, Leona Mitchell as Liu and Paul Plishka as the Tartar King. It is thanks to Italian film director Franco Zefferelli that this Turandot has gained special notoriety. The afterparty was rumored to have been a grand affair in itself, and the press photos were in the cover of Opera News. Guests at the party included Elizabeth Taylor who attended the premiere. This is exactly the type of grand opera that fits Zefferelli's taste for the grandiose, lush color, scenic backdrops, huge crowd scenes and lavish design. The costumes are particularly striking. Eva Marton looks and sings the part with virtuosic aplomb, though she does not convey too much characterization when compared to such celebrated Turandots as Eva Turner, Ghena Dimitrova and most notably Birgit Nilsson. Still, Turandot is wonderful as the man-hating, icy Princess of Peking. Placido Domingo was born to play Calaf, for he acts the part with aplomb. He sings wonderfully, with a voice that perfectly captures heroism and Puccini's vision of this determined prince. Domingo was criticized for taking on such a difficult part (in truth it is Puccini's most difficult tenor part) but it is a performance that is yet to be surpassed. His "Nessun Dorma" is far more moving and emotinally direct than the showy, meaningless manner that Pavarotti sang it. Domingo is the real reason I bought this DVD. It's sad that he was paired with weaker singers. If Eva Marton does not potray a dramatically moving Turandot (who goes from goddess to mortal woman in love in the course of only a few hours) Leona Mitchell fails visibly as the slave girl Liu. Leona has the right voice, sweetened but full-lyric, but she is a large woman who cannot possibly understand what it is like to be a frail, lovesick slave who is driven to suicide. I prefer smaller Lius (like those of Renata Scotto and Cecilia Gazdia). This is a dream of a Turandot however and looks stunning. We are whisked away to another time and place. It is a mythic China, a Shangri-La where a princesss under a dark spell is saved by a Prince. Enjoy!
- 2005-11-15, 13 of 17 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Hope, Blood, and TURANDOT!
- 1. Hope...I hope you will buy this dvd. One of the best opera that I have seen on DVD.
2. Blood...This cast has passion. Levine is divine. Domingo is a strong Calaf with a dramatic voice that soars over Puccini's masterpiece. His acting is tremendous as usuall. Mitchell is the bonus of this great cast. She sings flawlessly and one of the best Liu I have heard.
3. Turandot...Eva Marton might not be the best Turandot, but that does not matter. When she and Domingo were singing in act III it was magic. When she was shedding tears while singing my heart palpitated to a renewed passion of why I loved Opera to begin with. My eyes and ears where glued to my home theater. For all I care Marton and Domingo could have cracked their voices and it would have not mattered to me a bit, cause folks the stars were alligned right over the Met that night. I have not seen Metha's version of the Turandot, but this is the best Turandot I have seen so far. - 2005-11-07, 9 of 9 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Its Great Opera
- Well, this is a very large turandot. The sets are lavish and the stage action is evocative of chinese new year. The costumes appear to be, almost incredibly, detailed!
I own several Turandots, but I the vienna Marton, Carreras, Riccarelli is the most fruitful comparison.
Musically, Levine conducts a more restrained Turandot than Maazel. He holds the orchestra back a bit more, more than likely due to the size of the Met. But I have no complaints on this reading, it is a 5 star reading.
Turandot is the Dramatic Soprano Eva Marton. When choosing between this and the other option, consider that here her voice is more forced and squealing. Her top is extrodinary to behold, a real force of nature. Soimetimes the squelch is exciting, but it is not healthy. He costume is much more impressive in this Met production, and she is dowright scary.
Domingo plays Calaf. He is, to me, surprizingly overwhelmed bythe orchestra. This true from the end of act 1 until act 3. When the orchestra turned up the heat, domingo was drowned out. Now, Placido sand this role with the legendary Birgit Nillson in 1968, and he was heard just fine. The difference here is the constant forcing. He appears to be under great strain, (noting the 2nd act Crack at "No, Gli Enigmi sono tre!"
His acting is intense and heroic, with much posturing and heroic arm gesturing. It is clear that Domingo was a bit overtaxed by the tessitura of Calaf. He does, however, excel whenever the Orchestra allows it. The Vienna production features Jose Carreras, who, unfortunatley, has many of the same problems. Although, If I were forced to choose Calaf, I would choose Carreras as Calaf.
As Liu Leona Mitchel really shines. Signore Ascolta is well sung, and she is a wonderful actress. Paul Plishka, who these days can be seen as the Judge in Sweeney Todd, is a perfect Timur.
Overall, this is the most Lavish production of Turandot, with the best costumes, the best Staging and the most overwhelming scale. The Vienna production, available on video, is perhaps a touch more polished. - 2004-10-25, 14 of 16 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- The whole slightly less than the sum of the parts...
- Certainly I found this an enjoyable night's viewing, and rewatchable. The production is appropriately spectacular, the score frizzes with the excitement it should, and the principals parts are all taken by stars.
Leona Mitchell sings a wonderful Liu, shading her tone beautifully and floating the high notes as any worthwhile Liu should.
Eva Marton has a big voice that would have been great live but by 1988 had developed a judder in her voice that recording shows up glaringly. Her high notes sometimes squall - something hard to square with the idea of a sexually irresistable ice princess, whose top notes should be clear and, well, icy.
I found Domingo's Calaf is enjoyable enough but Chris' reservations are not without warrant. Paul Plishka makes a good Timur and Ping, Pang and Pong fuss about as they should.
All in all, a performance that I am happy to have, but would be grateful for a better one.
Sound DTS 5.1; Dolby 5.1 and PCM Stereo. Picture 4:3. Subtitles Italian; English; German; French; Spanish; Chinese. 132 mins.
- 2004-06-25, 13 of 15 people found this review helpful, Rated:
