Rating: 
Summary: Finely Sung Figaro!
Review: This is an excellent, fun performance of Figaro, if not my favorite, which is the most recent of The Met's, which is not available commercially(Fleming and her oldest daughter, Croft, Terfel,& Bartoli). I wasn't nuts about the sets as I've seen better but the performance of the orchestra, conductor and cast is terrific. Of course, Renee Fleming, Finley and Hagley were just perfect, as always. The sound, color and camera work was excellent and I certainly can recommend this video as a valuable addition to anyone's collection. I have many others but this ranks near the top as I certainly enjoyed the quality overall. I gave it 4 stars for the sets which are typical of the venue and I thought just OK. 5 stars for the cast and enjoyment! Glad I bought it!
Rating: 
Summary: Good production, mediocre sound mix
Review: This is generally a sparkling, enjoyable production. The principal singers do a wonderful job both musically and dramatically, and it's a treat to see people in these roles who are young enough to "fit" the characters properly. Bernard Haitink and the London Philharmonic are an absolute delight.However, two caveats. The sets are a slightly uneasy mix of flats in Ellsworth-Kelly-esque primary colors and dabs of period furniture; also, the lights dim for "serious" moments, an annoying, superficial touch. Much more problematic is the DVD sound mix. The orchestra comes off superbly, but voices are sometimes lost and muffled-sounding. I actually checked my center channel to see if it was active! Balance-wise, the stereo version is no better. This is just a word of caution to those who like to hear the SINGERS in an opera.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful, even for non-opera-lovers
Review: This is the best overall "Marriage of Figaro" video that I've seen. It's a modern, staged version, but with color and great sets and believable acting. It's not overdone, and the singing is good. English subtitles help. Even if you've never watched an opera video, I think you'll like this one. The music, of course, is among the most beautiful ever written, and is performed by the London Philharmonic.
Rating:
Summary: Mozart truly is the greatest show on earth
Review: This is the best production of Figaro that I have seen or heard in a while. Renee Fleming is outstanding with her lyrical voice that melts the heart. Gerald Finley is amazing in the lead role of Figaro. His voice is unfaltering and he easily attaches one to his character. But the best part of this production is Alison Hagley. This soprano was not known to me prior to viewing this production. But after hearing her sing Susanna, I can say she is one of the best sopranos today. Her aria in the final act holds enough emotion to draw tears. I found my skin crawling from the intense beauty of her voice. Hagley and Fleming also sing a duet in the third act where their melding voices sound like Sirens, harmonizing perfectly. If this is what Ulysses heard, then it is understandable why he wanted to crash his boat right into the shores.
Mozart's style is very precise, and as a student of classical music, I can say that all the lead performers know exactly how to perform this great composer. The performers truly bring details to perfection. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful performance with great voices
Review: This opera is greatly loved and it is easy to understand why. Although it is quite long, it is full of fabulous music that nearly everyone loves. There is humor, some real passion, with clearly drawn but interesting characters. This production is full of great performances and is easy to enjoy visually. The camera keeps us involved without making us aware of its work. The costumes are not overly colorful, but I like the subtlety - especially at 190 minutes! Gerald Finlay is a wonderful Figaro. I love his voice and presence. Alison Hagley has a wonderful voice and sings Susanna with great joy and she can act. Renee Fleming is transcendent as The Countess. Who can praise her enough? She seems to glow and her voice transfixes me. Andreas Schmidt is a wonderfully despicable Almaviva. The subtitles make it easy for non-Italian speaker who want to follow along to do so. I played this performance for my 11 year-old daughter and 10 year-old son and wondered how long they would last. I thought I would just expose them to the opera. They were mesmerized and didn't want to even take a break between tapes. They were caught up in the story and watching it happen made it much more enjoyable for them than just listening to it. My only wish is that these tapes would be transferred to DVD. Tapes wear out and bleed over time. Performances as wonderful as this one need to be preserved so we can enjoy them for decades. We need a better medium than VHS tapes.
Rating:
Summary: Re donburioishii's Question
Review: This was one of the 3 Mozart operas Peter Sellers did. The other 2 were Don Giovanni set in Spanish Harlem(I hated it) and Cosi fan tutti set in a dinner (never saw it). There were available on London/Decca on VHS but not any longer. Hopefully they will be released on DVD. He sets his innovative updated version of the opera in the Trump Tower with the Count a Trump-like rich man and Cherubino macho in an American football uniform. It works well most of the time and there are many enjoyable references to vintage film comedy. Sanford Sylvan is Figaro, Jeanne Ommerle is Susanna, Jayne West is the Countess, James Maddalena is the Count, Susan Larson is Cherubino, Sue Ellen Kuzma is Marcellina, Frank Kelley is Basilio, William Cotton is Don Curzio, Lyn Torgove is Barbarina and Herman Hildebrand is Antonio. The film was shot in a Vienna TV studio with sets by Adrianne Lobel and costumes by Dunya Ramicova. Craig Smith conducted the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Arnold Schoenberg Chorus.
Rating:
Summary: You can't go wrong with this one
Review: This, along with Bohm's version of Figaro starring Kiri Te Kanawa, is the best performance of this absolute masterpiece that I've had the chance to watch. Beautifully sung and with English subtitles. Renowned conductor (and Mozart expert) Harnoncourt has called Figaro the most beautiful music ever written. Get this video and you'll understand why.
Rating:
Summary: Le Nozze di Figaro as it should be....
Review: What a revelation! I've been an opera fan/lover for a number of years. I have preferred to hear and see the "mega-star' performers who, like me, are now past their primes. I purchased this tape based on the reviews shown above and (here's the revelation) discovered the likes of Finley, Fleming, Schmidt and the others in this production - all of whom fit perfectly the images and voices I have in my mind of Figaro, the Count and Countess, the pompous Bartolo, delightful Cherubino, the condescending Basilio, and the rest - right down to the wine sodden gardener. Oh yes, I left out Susanna - I think I'm in love with Alison Hagley! I can't imagine anyone besting her Susanna in this production. Bernard Haitink does Mozart the way I love it. Deservedly, Le Nozze di Figaro has the reputation of being one of the best, if not the best opera ever concieved by man and, in my mind, this ranks among the best ever recorded productions of it. If you like Mozart and opera and you don't have this one - GET IT!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Figaro Ever
Review: Wow! This video is, plainly, astounding! Gerald Finley is a great Figaro, singing happily and strongly. Alison Hagley is the best Susanna ever, no question! Her, "Deh, vieni" is incredible. Andreas Schmidt is strong, menacing, and believable as the Count, and Renee Fleming is a great Countess, second only to the great Kiri te Kanawa! Marie-Ange Todorovitch may not quite be Frederica von Stade as Cherubino, but still she was enjoyable. Haitink is a great conductor, and the orchestra shines! Wow! I seriously suggest that you buy this video.
Rating: 
Summary: Achieves the impossible
Review: You would think it would be impossible to make Mozart look and sound cheap and boring. From the start you get the feeling of emptiness and general lack of ideas. The settings and costumes are uninspired and just plain cheap. The tempo of the orchestra is slow and sounds tired. The voices are good but the ensembles just don't sound right. The Count sounds good but looks more like a country boor than an aristocrat, Susanna looks way too modern and I believe that this must be one of the least attractive Cherubinos on record. I was not able to finish watching the DVD.
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