Rating: 
Summary: Uninspired
Review: Badly staged but beautifully sung, this 1994 Glyndebourne production is not the definitive, must-have DVD of "Figaro" that I would so like to find. I realize that "definitive" is a relative term, but one would at least hope that the elements of musical and stage direction, voices and design would come together better than they do here. The five leads do their best (and their best is quite good, thank you), but there are many, many distractions. Fleming (looking very heavy and exhausted) sings ravishingly, but is costumed so badly -- her gray wig is ridiculous and comical -- you have to wonder if she was personally disliked by the designer. Poor Andreas Schmidt suffers similarly, looking positively stuffed into his costumes. Finley and Hagley fare much better, creating lovely characterizations and -- I must stress again --they ALL sing beautifully. But this is not a CD, this is a live production and the artists are given no help from the designer, John Gunter, or the director, Stephen Medcalf, both of whom seem to have gone out of their way to present the piece in as dull and utilitarian a way as they could. And I completely agree with many of the previous reviewers: the sound mix is terrible. I cannot believe that a conductor as skilled as Haitink would purposefully drown out his cast, or that an ensemble this skilled would not be able to keep up with his orchestra -- so someone in the sound booth was asleep at the switch. I appreciated having seen this version of "Figaro," but will continue my search for the DVD in which the elements mesh more successfully. I mean, what's the point of a DVD if you can only enjoy it with your eyes closed?
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best OPERA DVD so far! Amazing!
Review: Believe me, if I could rate it higher I would. I have own this DVD for two years in PAL, since the NTSC version was not available in Amazon. Alison Hagley is a beautifull Susanna that not only sings incredible, but also acts incredible! And this is what this DVD is all about, it puts together some incredible singing with some great and really comic acting. Haitink and the London Philharmonic are simply marvellous, as is most of the cast. Renee Fleming is perferct as the countess (as those who know her should expect) and Gerald Finley is a very good Figaro, both singing and acting. The scenery is simple but convincing. I have nearly 50 opera DVDs and this one has been one of my favorites for some time. VERY enjoyable. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Renee Fleming ROCKS!
Review: Everything about this video is superb as we have come to expect of the Glyndebourne. Certainly it helps to start with the musical beauty and charm of Mozart's masterpiece. Glyndebourne then adds it's usual high performance and production values. But the most remarkable element of this production is the deeply affecting performance of beautiful American soprano Renee Fleming in the role of Countess Almaviva. Her looks and acting are stunning enough, but then she opens her mouth and sings in a vioce for making flesh melt. What a singer! What a WOMAN!
Rating:
Summary: FLEMING'S COUNTESS: UNIMAGINABLE PERFECTION
Review: Fleming herself has confessed that "Dove sonno i bei momenti" is a "torture" aria for her because of the long legati and the demand for perfect vocal lines. I had heard her saying that before I heard her singing the Countess and in fact I was a bit nervous because I thought I would see her struggle with that aria... I hadn't imagined that I would hear the slowest -thus the most difficult- reading of the aria with legati that make you think the woman does not need to breath at all, with piani and pianissimi of the most sensitive expression, small decorations that make the lines extremely beautiful and above all a legato that can only be compared with Rosa Ponselle's or Callas' at her best times. Then at the end, she sings the final cadenza with no sign of fatigue with the most exquisite trills we have heard -that most great Countesses omit regardless of whether they are good trillers or not...
Fleming's Countess as long as her Fiordiligi are of such unimaginable vocal and interpretive perfection that can only be compared with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's legendary readings of the role. And I dare to say that Elisabeth is truly in danger of losing her Throne to Renee in those roles!
After Fleming's declaration that she won't sing Norma as she believes she will lose her voice with that dreadfully difficult role, I can't stop wondering if she decides someday to sing another role which is cut to her voice with the incredibly beautiful timbre, the drama of the most exquisite depth, the chest register that is so strong and velvety and the remarkable coloratura: Anna Bolena. I strongly believe that if Fleming decides to sing Bolena (with Kasarova or Podles as Jane Saymour) she will rival the ONLY Bolena Maria Callas.
Rating:
Summary: Sound quality a dissapointment
Review: I fell in love with the characters when I watched R.M. Arts, The Netherlands Opera, Il Barbiere Di Siviglia. When I compare the sound quality of that DVD to this one, this one is a disappointment. Listening to the Orchestra, I enjoyed the overture a great deal, but then when the singers start their performance they sound far away. I have read other reviewers reservations about Kultur's sound quality and have to add my voice to that chorus. I am an opera beginner, but as we are unable to travel to see opera, videos and dvds are my only chance to view these performances. I will have to think twice about investing in a Kultur presentation, especially since these programs cost more than popular movies
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Figaro!
Review: I have seen four video versions of Le Nozze di Figaro, of which three, including this one, were extremly fine. I think that this Figaro is my very favorite, but the Cheribino was not as good Frederica von Stade, and (although this Susanna was very good) Kathleen Battle is still my favorite. The lighting was a little odd sometimes, but was wonderful in the last scene. Also, they gave the Countess a very ugly wig in the second act. But these were minor problems and everything else was wonderful!
Rating:
Summary: This dvd of the Glyndebourne production of Figaro has
Review: I just bought this Figaro and loved it. The cast, sets and conducting seemed almost perfect. My only complaint was that the titles were a little insufficent at times and they were way to big -- smaller print would have been less intrusive. Re the Nixon in China, I've always loved that opera and was present the night of the taping that was broadcast on PBS many years ago. I also saw a concert version of it here in San Francisco before the stage premier in Houston. The likelyhood of it ever appearing on DVD is probably only a fantasy. I watched my tape of it last weekend and was as thrilled as ever with it. I know many folks don't like it but for me it just hits all the right spots. With my new computer, I've just finished converting it to DVD to preserve it since as I said before it is highly unlikely it will become available commercially.
Rating:
Summary: donburioishii and Nixon In China
Review: I just bought this Figaro and loved it. The cast, sets and conducting seemed almost perfect. My only complaint was that the titles were a little insufficent at times and they were way to big -- smaller print would have been less intrusive. Re the Nixon in China, I've always loved that opera and was present the night of the taping that was broadcast on PBS many years ago. I also saw a concert version of it here in San Francisco before the stage premier in Houston. The likelyhood of it ever appearing on DVD is probably only a fantasy. I watched my tape of it last weekend and was as thrilled as ever with it. I know many folks don't like it but for me it just hits all the right spots. With my new computer, I've just finished converting it to DVD to preserve it since as I said before it is highly unlikely it will become available commercially.
Rating:
Summary: My personal favorite of the Figaro DVDs
Review: I just purchased this DVD; I already own 4 other versions and was still searching for the "perfect" one - now I found it. The singing was absolutely glorious, the casting was absolutely on the nose, the costumes were great, the sets were minimalistic but workable. My only complaint (and it is a small one) is that Mr. Haitink takes the overture a little slowly. Otherwise, the pacing was superb. My older two girls (11 and 6) loved it, too. Hurray, I don't have to buy any more Figaro DVDs!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best casts of Figaro! Mozart would be pleased!
Review: I love the singing and I love the costumes! They should do a studio recording of this! The singers all play their parts well and I appreciate the producers and conductor adding the Marcellina and Basilio arias. Subtitles should have been added for the small parts the singers sang, where they didn't. That's one of my complaints. Also, the garden scene could have looked more authentic. But the production is a delight. But I'm saying to Susanna and the Countess "You both shut up, you stupid women!!" *The ladies gasp* Get this one! You'll really enjoy it!
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