Rating: 
Summary: What were you watching you, guys?
Review: This Butterfly got me completely dissapointed when I watched on video some years ago. The only thing I really liked (and I mean really) was the orchestral sound. An open-air stage like Arena de Verona needs a bigger orchestra than usual and the sound of that big mass of sound was really well and carefully carried out by Maurizio Arena.For the rest, the only thing I can say is that I don't understand how italian audiences have so little respect for Puccini and his masterwork, 'Butterfly'. Not only in this DVD recording, but also in the equally horrible 'Butterfly' in La Scala by Hayashi/Maazel, you have to deal with a noisy public and the feeling that no one is listening to the music. Nor I understand their satisfaction applauses at the end (did they really enjoy?). Raina Kavaibanska can probably be a great soprano, despite her harsh tone, but always looks arrogant, unsensitive, overacted and disagreeable on stage. The only place I liked her was in a 'Trovatore' in a Domingo/Karajan production in Vienna, but in general she tends to act like an old-fashioned prima donna who wants to gain prominence everywhere. And that attitude is specially unfortunate in a role like Butterfly, so a delicate woman. It's really horrible to watch Kabaivanska behaving like a sergeant in Act I . The other singers can do nothing to better it up, but in most cases they even don't seem to want to do it. Antinori has nothing of a romantic character and does his acting job plainly and unexpressively. Saccomani is also plain and dull. I love this opera and do not want to watch it acted like this, so I ask to the other reviewers: Did you really think that a better 'Butterfly' couldn't be done when you gave it FIVE stars? Rafael, Madrid.
Rating: 
Summary: Butterfly fallida
Review: Todavía no he encontrado una versión de Butterfly que me resulte satisfactoria. Al adquirir ésta esperaba, por las estrellas que lucía, que pudiera ser la versión que hace falta. Sin embargo, con excepción del bellísimo jardín japonés que logra ambientar plenamente la acción, el resto de ella es muy insatisfactorio. El sonido es deficiente, dependiendo de la posición de los micrófonos ambientales a veces las voces se pierden.Por otra parte, en general, también resulta demasiado metálico. El desempeño de Kabaivanska, altamente profesional, es también muy inadecuado. Se supone que Butterfly tiene 15 años y K. representa tres veces más. Todos los esfuerzos del maquillador resultan insuficientes para ocultar su excesiva madurez. Tampoco la acompaña el físico por lo alta y maciza que resulta para representar una adolecente japonesa. Su emisión, trabajada con mucha técnica, tampoco es concordante con la edad de la protagonista. Sus desplazamientos por el bello escenario, por todas las inadecuaciones ya anotadas,a pesar de sus esfuerzos, parecen más un remedo de una geisha. En todo caso, hay que destacar su dominio de escena y su seguridad para coordinarse con el director. En este último aspecto, el desempeño del tenor y el barítono resultan muy pobres, preocupándose tanto de lograrlo que se olvidan que la ópera también requiere actuación. La voz de Antinori, con un timbre demasiado metálico en los agudos, también resulta insuficiente para el papel, especialmente cuando debe enfrentar el registro medio y bajo. La dirección de Arena, quizá por el requerimiento de un conjunto demasiado numeroso por tratarse de una presentación en espacio abierto, pasa por momentos en que pareciera no lograr una adecuada concertación. En definitiva, los amantes de Madama Butterfly debemos seguir esperando una versión satisfactoria en DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: outstanding production
Review: Whatever other performances of "Butterfly" you might have in whatever medium they might have been preserved, this performance is simply one that you must have. To a person, the performances are fabulous both in the richness of the voices and in the quality of the characterizations. The venue allows for a large and inventive production, the sets are tastefully lush, the sound is vibrant, and the videography is superb. As has been said in other reviews, it does require a degree of "willing suspension of disbelief" for one to imagine Ms. Kabaivanska as a fifteen year old girl but it doesn't take long for her to charm the viewer so that it is hardly noticed. She truly wins one's heart as the loving, faithful, brave--but tragic--heroine. Again, if you miss having this recording, you will have missed a captivating and memorable experience.
Rating:
Summary: A "Must Have" Performance for you Collection!!!
Review: Whatever other performances of "Butterfly" you might have in whatever medium they might have been preserved, this performance is simply one that you must have. To a person, the performances are fabulous both in the richness of the voices and in the quality of the characterizations. The venue allows for a large and inventive production, the sets are tastefully lush, the sound is vibrant, and the videography is superb. As has been said in other reviews, it does require a degree of "willing suspension of disbelief" for one to imagine Ms. Kabaivanska as a fifteen year old girl but it doesn't take long for her to charm the viewer so that it is hardly noticed. She truly wins one's heart as the loving, faithful, brave--but tragic--heroine. Again, if you miss having this recording, you will have missed a captivating and memorable experience.
Rating:
Summary: THE GREAT RAINA KABAIVANSKA
Review: You could not imagine more beautiful and attractif Butterfly than Raina Kabaivanska! If you want to know more about this phenomenal performer you are welcome: www.rainafan.tk
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