Rating: 
Summary: A Very Good Don -- Superb Conducting and Singing!
Review: This is a fine film record of Mozart's Don Giovanni from a Salzburg produciton from the 1980s. It is a nicely paced, well-staged production with some excellent singing. Samuel Ramey really acts the part of the Don with great zest and other characters both sing and act their parts very well. The staging is pretty much traditional. I thought one very nice touch was at the end of the opera when the statue appears -- the backdrop consists of gorgeous astronomical images and the Don is engulfed into these images as he dragged to hell.Von Karajan conducts a superb orchesteral performance that is somewhat on the spacious side, but which in no way drags. He definitely captures the humor of the score, especially the Leporello scenes. The sound quality of the DVD is excellent, comparable to a good set of CDs, with very nice balance between the voices and the orchestra. Eveything on the DVD is very clearly recorded and von Karajan really brings out the details in the score. There is, on the downside, a modest amount of stage noise. The DVD has very ample tracking and comes with subtitles and good program notes. It is definitely a very good Don Giovanni to have.
Rating: 
Summary: Not perfect, but still very good
Review: This is a solid DVD of Don Giovanni, having particularly fine orchestral playing, and some of the best sound quality I have heard yet on DVD. Vocally, the cast is top-notch, with particular accolades going to those playing Donna Anna and Donna Elvira for their singing. Samuel Ramey is an excellent Don Giovanni, and Leporello is also given a good reading. Kathleen Battle as Zerlina sings well but her acting is quite weak, and her companion Masseto is likewise vocally adequate, but rather unconvinging acted. In fact, my major critique of this production is that it is not theatrical enough. Only the singer playing Leporello really convinces as an actor. Ramey as Don Giovanni is also passable, but the two donna are rather static, and as I mentioned above Zerlina and Masseto get poor marks for their acting. The cast also tends to look rather old for their roles - Masseto in particular hardly convinces as a young, fresh country lad, being played by a rather heavyset, middle-aged man with a large moustache. The stage is quite big, and the sets are likewise large and unwieldy. Lighting is a problem - this is a very DARK Don Giovanni - and the pervading darkness and large sets unfortunately lends the production a rather cold feel that the non-acting of the principals does little to thaw. I also must express some reservations about the final scene where Giovanni is (supposed to be) pulled into Hell by the Commendatore. In this production, he is pulled not down to hell, but, strangely enough, beamed up to outerspace. Despite my problems with this from a conceptual standpoint, I must admit that it is pulled off superbly, with special effects worthy of Star Wars. Although so far I've dwelled mostly on the negatives, this Don G. also has some major points in its favor. Karajan's direction, is, I think suberb. I was somewhat apprehensive going in, given his reputation for rather heavy and slow interpretations of Mozart in his later years, but I don't think that is the case here. While certainly not a speedy interpretation, none of the tempos ever felt seriously off to me, and pacing is very good. The playing of the Vienna Philharmonic is glorious - I don't think it could be bettered (and I have heard MANY Don Giovannis). Say what you will about Karajan in his later years, but on the evidence seen here, he was still able to get what he wanted from an orchestra, and they play for him with total commitment and dedication. I also want to make special note of the recorded sound, which is some of the best I have heard from a DVD source. It is stereo only, but when I hooked up my DVD player to my hi-fi system the sound that poured forth from my speakers was glorious - like having the Vienna Philharmonic right there in your living room. It had everything you could ask for - presence, depth, soundstaging, and detail. Picture quality is only average, however. Although I have some reservations about the production, I still feel fairly confident recommending this Giovanni, since its musical and technical attributes are so superb. It is also very reasonably priced for an opera on DVD ...At the very least, if one is unhappy with the production, simply turn off the t.v. monitor, and enjoy the audio portion. Of the DVD competition, I have seen only the Muti/La Scala production and the Losey film, both of which I find inferior to the present one. The Muti suffers from all the flaws of this production - a too-dark set, non-existant acting, weak stage direction. Add to that lousy recorded sound, vastly inferior orchestral playing, an interpretation from Muti that fails to take off, and a grainy, gritty picture. ... Pass. The Losey film works well as a movie, and is visually quite stunning, but the recorded sound is so atriciously bad that I cannot derive any musical satisfaction from it, despite many attempts. The orchestra and singers sound distant, weak and tinny, and details are obscured by tons of tape hiss. It's like listening to an old transistor radio... For those looking for a Don Giovanni on DVD with superb musical virtues above all, this is probably your best bet. Those looking for a vital, lively production might be a little disappointed. I am still awaiting a Don Giovanni on DVD to which I can give 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: A perfect Don G.
Review: This is a wonderful DVD, having all the best of ingredients that blend together to make a perfect Don G. Herbert V. Karajan has done a magnificent job with the orchestrated music and the performers are top notch (acting as well as singing). I found the setting perfectly suited to the style and mood of this great work: dark, seductive and secretive. The camera angles are well placed and the audio is superb. Samuel Ramey is a perfect Don G. Unrelenting in his persuit of the fairer sex and unrepentant as well: great voice and obviously enjoys his role as the world's number one philanderer. Julia Varady is the frequently scorned and forever forgiving damsel. Her non singing part in Leporello's "Madamina" is delightful to watch. Kathleen Battle plays a coquettish Zerlina and her arias and the duet with Ramey are magnificent to behold. My favorite performance however, is by Ferruccio Fulanetto as the roguish Leporello; playing the role of a scoundrel who knows he should know better but is having too much fun to stop.
One final point: I liked the menu on this DVD. Giving you the option to play the entire concert or go to a particular scene. Also the choice of language for the subtitles was nice as well: although I speak English only, I find that once you get used a particular opera, it really is nice to follow along the voices in the recorded language, in this case Italian. I must admit that my favorite opera language is Italian. The true measure of pleasure an opera gives me is how often I listen to my favorite sections and it comes as no surprise that I play several sections very often. It seems every time I observe something new. If you were considering getting Don Giovanni I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this DVD. You will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Giovanni al maestro
Review: This version of Giovanni is extremely impressive and has much fine music to offer. I recommend it whole-heartedly for the great moments of lush, wonderful sound it offers. Varady, Tomowa-Sintow, Ramey, Battle are well-cast and all perform admirably. I certainly found myself breathless at several
places hearing this Divinely inspired score so wonderfully sung. But you should be warned, this production takes itself mighty seriously. There are places where you may even find yourself a little bored. Despite a fabulous comic turn by Ferlinetto as Leporello, this production is a bit leaden. The Met version with Ramey and Battle had a better balance of comedy and drama in my opinion and was better-acted. When Giovanni was carried off to Hell at the end, it came as a genuine surprise-- and the subtlety of the drama's structure seemed much more ingenious that way. But even if that version were available. you would probably want this one in your collection as well If you are in the mood for some gorgeous Mozart music, this performance just might blow you away
Rating:
Summary: Quite enjoyable
Review: This was the first full opera I have ever veiwed. I bought it because of my admiration for miestro Karajan's work with with previous orchestras and Vienna's purely spectacular playing. I was (more than) impressed with Karajan and Vienna, but really the singers were the most inspiring part of this opera. I was very impressed with their feelings they could produce through their singing. I escpecially liked Alexander Malta as Masetto.
This dvd was a gift that inspired me to take the plunge into the opera scene. I just purchased a Colin Davis production of Die Zauberflote and cant wait for the next Tulsa Opera Production. Don Giovanni and opera has claimed another admirer.
I definatly recommend it.
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