Halevy - La Juive (Sutej, Shicoff, Wiener Staatsoper) [Ntsc]

Customer Reviews:

La Juive - a Grand Opera masterpiece to discover.......2006-03-27

While the singing in this production of "La Juive" has been generally praised, the staging has been described by some as "boring" because of minimalist sets. This comment doesn't do this production justice and should not put off potential buyers: the lights, the crowds and the costumes are very efficient at filling the stage and create a lavish, bright, almost mesmerizing vision. The moving crowds undeline the dynamics of the play and express better than any set the confrontation between Jews and Chrsitians, conveying perfectly the message of fear and oppression. In fact, I suspect a more traditional production would be completely out of touch in front of a 21st century audience, considering how modern and serious the subject is or has become. In short, nothing dull in this very moving production. The technical quality of the DVD is flawless, both the picture (16:9)and the sound are excellent : a pure pleasure to discover and, in my opinion, one of the most interesting opera DVDs available to date.

I also highly recommend the Deutsche Oper Berlin production of Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots" on a somewhat similar subject - Catholics and Calvinists in Frances's 15th century. It is interesting to note that "Les Huguenots" was performed for the first time in 1836, one year after the creation of "La Juive"... Equally smart but probably more "fun" to watch and more accessible from a musical standpoint.

Ok!.......2005-05-27

I can't call this a first-rate performance only because staging of it borders on the absurd so I'll leave the presentation of it there.

The performances of all the singers are above reproach especially Shicoff's Eleazar and Stoyanova's Rachel.

Customer Reviews:

Lovely!.......2005-03-31

This is a lovely DVD, with beautiful music.
It's very heart-warming to see Dame Kiri with Malvina Major with whom she studied under Dame Sister Mary Leo, many years ago.
The Concert on the DVD begins with the Opera Factory Ensemble signing Tarakihi and then Kiri sings the famous Porgi Amor very beautifully.
Later Helen Medlyn sings Habanera with great enthusiasm.
Simon O'Neill has a full, strong voice and he sings The Flower Song and others.
The whole concert has a lovely atmosphere, very professional but at the same time very warm and moving.

Do buy it, it's a wonderful success......

A noteworthy evening............2005-03-16

I was looking forward to seeing this DVD because it marks another milestone in Dame Kiri's career, a concert in which all the performers gave freely of their time and talent to support Dame Kiri's Foundation, to help aspiring young singers.

The evening begins with 'Tarakihi' sung by the Opera Factory Ensemble and they set the tone for the evening, rather formal and muted,but very poised and dignified.
The Dame Kiri sings Porgi Amor very beautifully with the cool detachment which has become her keynote.

However, when Helen Medlyn soon afterwards sings the Habanera, all that changes and the fire melts the ice and the audience wakes up. It was brilliant!
Simon O'Neill has an excellent presence and he sings very well, of course.
Dame Malvina Major has the dignified, modulated voice of the professional opera diva and she and Kiri sing together and we remember that they were both trained originally by Dame Sister Mary Leo.

The whole evening is very well presented and it is a pleaasure to watch and the DVD is one which I will want to watch many times.

I wish that we could have seen more of the event itself, as the accompanying booklet states that there were personal recorded messages from Prince Charles, Placido Domingo and many others and an appearance by Jonah Lomu.
It would have been nice to have enjoyed those moments too.

However, the DVD is well worth buying and it will provide hours and hours of enjoyment.

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