Rating: 
Summary: Nice production on bad Kultur label
Review:
C'est avec grande impatience que j'ai attendu les sorties en Amérique du nord des DVD de deux opéras dirigés par Marc Minkowski, Platée et La belle Hélène, parus en Europe bien des mois auparavant, ce qui est maintenant chose faite. En zone 2 (Pal-Sécam) ces parutions sont sur étiquette TDK, tandis qu'en Amérique du nord (zone 1 système NTSC) elles le sont sur étiquette KULTUR .
Les œuvres et les productions sont superbes mais pour l'amateur nord-américain la déception est grande. Il y a dans ces versions (zone 1) sur étiquette KULTUR un manque de professionnalisme aberrant et incompréhensible. Alors que les européens ont droit aux sous-titres en cinq langues dont le français, ce qui aide à suivre le chant, on a droit ici qu'à l'anglais, comme s'il n'y avait en Amérique ni francophones, ni francophiles, ni hispanophones. C'est avoir bien peu de considération pour les huit millions de canadiens qui vivent en français et qui sont un public de premier choix pour des œuvres françaises.
Aucun livret ne viendra vous donner quelques détails sur le chef, la production ou les interprètes, KULTUR a jugé qu'un simple feuillet mentionnant le chapter correspondant à un air suffirait. Et sur les deux DVD achetés, un seul avait le feuillet correspondant. Dans le boitier de Platée j'ai eu droit au feuillet de opéra Giulio Cesare / Opera Australia!!!
Il y a pire encore. Alors que sur étiquette TDK les Européens ont droit à trois encodages audio (PCM Stéréo; Dolby digital 5.1; DTS) il n'y en a qu'un seul sur KULTUR, soit le Dolby 5.1 Surround, avec pour résultat un son caverneux, des sonorités lointaines ou égarées pour quiconque écoute à partir d'une chaîne stéréo aussi bonne soit-elle.
Les deux productions de ces opéras sont véritablement excellentes, extraordinaires même. Aussi est-il aberrant de ne pas rendre justice au chef, aux chanteurs, aux musiciens, bref à toutes les équipes que ce soit du Palais Garnier, du Théâtre du Châtelet, ou de Radio-France. L'étiquette KULTUR gâche notre plaisir et ne mérite pas d'utiliser, de disposer de manière aussi désinvolte des réalisations de cette grande envergure. Les artistes sont desservis et le public nord-américain privé de DVD de qualité.
Rating: 
Summary: No Apple for this Not-So Belle Helene
Review: After reading the raves, I was disappointed. This production tries too hard to be cute and post-modern. It all but suffocates Offenbach and his librettists, whose sharp satire and inspired operetta silliness are not improved by self-conscious Euro-trendy updating. My apple goes to the Harnoncourt DVD, a simpler, fresher, faster-paced production with Vesselina Kasarova, a really attractive and sexy young Helen of Troy-the ditzy dame whose beauty, after all, is the whole point of the story, the McGuffin that all the male louts chase after.
I hate to be disrespectful to a distinguished artist, but Dame Felicity is fatally inappropriate in voice (not strong or agile) and appearance (too old) for this role-I mean Helen, not the superfluous middle-aged housewife. The frame story of her dreaming she is the beautiful queen represents the producers' embarrassing concession to her age and wears mighty thin way before the first act curtain. This device aggravates the clutter of an already over-populated, over-complicated, over-costumed, over-choreographed, over-stuffed staging that the cameras, trying too hard to keep up, can capture only in isolated snatches. It all probably worked better for the live audience which could see everything and was spared the fast cuts and revealing close-ups.Though the musical score is a "critical edition" (another example of trying too hard?) the musical performance is tight and restrained. The chorus members and extras often look dazed or disengaged, as if they can't figure out what's going on either. In the third act beach scene I wished the cameras would stand still long enough so I could read the entire menu of the refreshment stand in Greek letters with prices in drachmas-the most amusing thing in view.
Rating:
Summary: No Apple for this Not-So Belle Helene
Review: After reading the raves, I was disappointed. This production tries too hard to be cute and post-modern. It all but suffocates Offenbach and his librettists, whose sharp satire and inspired operetta silliness are not improved by self-conscious Euro-trendy updating. My apple goes to the Harnoncourt DVD, a simpler, fresher, faster-paced production with Vesselina Kasarova, a really attractive and sexy young Helen of Troy-the ditzy dame whose beauty, after all, is the whole point of the story, the McGuffin that all the male louts chase after.
I hate to be disrespectful to a distinguished artist, but Dame Felicity is fatally inappropriate in voice (not strong or agile) and appearance (too old) for this role-I mean Helen, not the superfluous middle-aged housewife. The frame story of her dreaming she is the beautiful queen represents the producers' embarrassing concession to her age and wears mighty thin way before the first act curtain. This device aggravates the clutter of an already over-populated, over-complicated, over-costumed, over-choreographed, over-stuffed staging that the cameras, trying too hard to keep up, can capture only in isolated snatches. It all probably worked better for the live audience which could see everything and was spared the fast cuts and revealing close-ups. Though the musical score is a "critical edition" (another example of trying too hard?) the musical performance is tight and restrained. The chorus members and extras often look dazed or disengaged, as if they can't figure out what's going on either. In the third act beach scene I wished the cameras would stand still long enough so I could read the entire menu of the refreshment stand in Greek letters with prices in drachmas-the most amusing thing in view.
Rating:
Summary: KULTUR label did a fine mess of an excellent production
Review: C'est avec grande impatience que j'ai attendu les sorties en Amérique du nord des DVD de deux opéras dirigés par Marc Minkowski, Platée et La belle Hélène, parus en Europe bien des mois auparavant, ce qui est maintenant chose faite. En zone 2 (Pal-Sécam) ces parutions sont sur étiquette TDK, tandis qu'en Amérique du nord (zone 1 système NTSC) elles le sont sur étiquette KULTUR .
Les œuvres et les productions sont superbes mais pour l'amateur nord-américain la déception est grande. Il y a dans ces versions (zone 1) sur étiquette KULTUR un manque de professionnalisme aberrant et incompréhensible. Alors que les européens ont droit aux sous-titres en cinq langues dont le français, ce qui aide à suivre le chant, on a droit ici qu'à l'anglais, comme s'il n'y avait en Amérique ni francophones, ni francophiles, ni hispanophones. C'est avoir bien peu de considération pour les huit millions de canadiens qui vivent en français et qui sont un public de premier choix pour des œuvres françaises. Aucun livret ne viendra vous donner quelques détails sur le chef, la production ou les interprètes, KULTUR a jugé qu'un simple feuillet mentionnant le chapter correspondant à un air suffirait. Et sur les deux DVD achetés, un seul avait le feuillet correspondant. Dans le boitier de Platée j'ai eu droit au feuillet de opéra Giulio Cesare / Opera Australia!!!
Il y a pire encore. Alors que sur étiquette TDK les Européens ont droit à trois encodages audio (PCM Stéréo; Dolby digital 5.1; DTS) il n'y en a qu'un seul sur KULTUR, soit le Dolby 5.1 Surround, avec pour résultat un son caverneux, des sonorités lointaines ou égarées pour quiconque écoute à partir d'une chaîne stéréo aussi bonne soit-elle. Les deux productions de ces opéras sont véritablement excellentes, extraordinaires même. Aussi est-il aberrant de ne pas rendre justice au chef, aux chanteurs, aux musiciens, bref à toutes les équipes que ce soit du Palais Garnier, du Théâtre du Châtelet, ou de Radio-France. L'étiquette KULTUR gâche notre plaisir et ne mérite pas d'utiliser, de disposer de manière aussi désinvolte des réalisations de cette grande envergure. Les artistes sont desservis et le public nord-américain privé de DVD de qualité.
Rating: 
Summary: Lott past her best, good critical edition of Offenbach
Review: In recent years Mark Minkowski, who is better known as the conductor of a lot of "HIP" baroque recordings, has made a side-niche for himself in Offenbach operettas. I certainly admire his vision: to him, Offenbach was not merely a composer of charming tunes. Minkowski uses "critical editions" of Offenbach's works, restoring the traditional cuts and giving the operettas lavish stagings with world-class casts. Belle Helene was one of Minkowski's most admired efforts. And it's certainly wonderful to hear Offenbach's complete score played with such brio and committment.
However, I must admit this dvd was a bitterly disappointing purchase for me. And blame must fall squarely on the shoulders of the Helene of this video, Dame Felicity Lott. There's no kind way to put it: she's vocally past it for this video. Her voice is thin and screechy -- she compensates by shrill declamation and hammy acting. The end effect is charmless.
As a nod to her "over-the-hillness" the directors have made Helene a bored housewife of a certain age who's first seen lounging in her bed next to a snoring husband. Thus, the whole "Helen of Troy" storyline is a dream. I suppose it was a clever idea (since Lott both looks and sounds her age) and Offenbach's whole work was a spoof of contemporary Parisian society. I have no beef with the production, really. It's clever and tongue-in-cheek and with the right cast it could really work. But overall Belle Helene is one of those works that cannot survive an unsuitable lead singer. (Think Norma where the production, Adalgisa, and Pollione are all world class but where the Norma is terrible.)
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful operetta, wonderful production, fatal flaw
Review: Offenbach wrote a whole slew of wonderful, witty operettas.
This one is typical, a funny witty farce.
Minkowski has a terrific vision for the piece and the staging updates the action with a grab bag of jokes and double entendres.
But there is a terrible, fatal flaw in this DVD. Couldn't they find someone else for the title role? La Belle Helene, the most beautiful woman in the world, played by an aging, over the hill,
overacting "soprano". Not only does Lott look her age but she sounds it.
Her tone is hard, glassy, and very brittle. She overacts in a very arch, mannered style.
This is such a shame as it's a fun piece, and imaginative production and except for the fatal flaw, a terrific ensemble of a cast.
It's impossible to believe that the Trojan War was fought over this Helen.
Rating: 
Summary: A defective DVD
Review: The first copy of this DVD I received had a five to ten scond freeze in Act I and could not play anything other than Act I. It's replacement could play the whole opera but still had the problem in Act I at the same place. Amazon.com has informed me that they have had difficulties with all shipments they have received so far and, thus, can not offer a replacement for this second DVD. The only advice I have been offered is to wait a long time before reordering. If you can get a good copy of this DVD, however, it seems well performed, but now does not seem the right time to order it.
Rating:
Summary: A defective DVD
Review: The first copy of this DVD I received had a five to ten scond freeze in Act I and could not play anything other than Act I. It's replacement could play the whole opera but still had the problem in Act I at the same place. Amazon.com has informed me that they have had difficulties with all shipments they have received so far and, thus, can not offer a replacement for this second DVD. The only advice I have been offered is to wait a long time before reordering. If you can get a good copy of this DVD, however, it seems well performed, but now does not seem the right time to order it.
Rating: 
Summary: Zips along - clever, funny, and lots of ear candy
Review: This is a very clever production of a charming piece. You will find yourself liking every character along with appreciating Offenbach's often lovely always fun music. I particularly enjoyed the high tenor of Yann Beuron. His Paris gets some of the best music and he does a great job with it. This is a delightful DVD. NOTE: Like one of the earlier reviewers, my DVD played perfectly.
Rating:
Summary: everytthing is beautiful
Review: This La Belle Helene has been nominated for many awards and rightly so. It is so much fun. Dame Felicity Lott is a wonderful Helene, slightly older than Offenbach might have imagined, and this makes her performance so hilarious. She is a combination Lucille Ball and Joan Davis as she casts her eye on young Paris and yearns for him yet must present a proper outward appearance. And she sings gloriously! The whole cast is oustanding and the operetta is presented with many clever bits. During the Dream Duet the chorus appears in the background as amorous sheep. In the first act Menelaus appears in his nightshirt while Paris, in the contest, has only a towel draped around him as he sings his Mt. Ida song. Best of all is the Act 1 conclusion. Though less than a minute long, Menalaus is whisked off on his journey to Crete by eight dancers dressed as travel agents who even manage to add a very brief Offenbach cancan to their highjinks. And a flight attendant briefly appears to lead the King away. Hats off to Dame Felicity for a performence for the ages! And Offenbach must surely be smiling.
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