Verdi - Nabucco / Muti, Bruson, Dimitrova, Burchuladze, Becaria, Pierotti, La Scala

Rating:
Summary: Very beautiful
Review: Atilla is out of print, but I rented a copy, loved it, and by sheer luck stumbled onto a copy of it (for $10!!!) on eBay. This opera (Nabucco) is just a notch above that one. It is one of the most peaceful Verdi opera with one of the most peaceful endings (his daughter drinks poison, converts to Judaism and perishes in about five minutes) I have ever seen. It was steeped in religion of course (this time Assyrian and Jewish), but (sigh) I'm getting used to it. The singing and the music were wonderful. A friend of mine who doesn't like opera commented that the sets and scenery were awesome. It is early Verdi (his first hit in fact), and the tunes (except "go my thoughts") aren't as clearly defined as in, say, Rigoletto, and there is much choral singing. But I liked it very much. (The Jewish elders were quite parental and Victorian, of course.)

Rating:
Summary: GREAT EARLY VERDI
Review: Every aspect of this La Scala production was well done. I thoroughly enjoyed it - particularily the chorus, Bruson and Dimitrova.

Rating:
Summary: Must have opera DVD
Review: Late Verdi may be awesome but I've always had a passion for the savage crudity of his early years and Nabucco satisfies that passion wonderfully. This is the biblical story of the Assyrian kind who defies God and is struck insane.This 1987 production from LaScala is great on all counts. Muti loves this music and throws himself into it with a vengence. Bruson is at the height of his powers. Dhimitrova's part is a killer and contributed to the ending of Verdi's second wife's career. No such problem for our diva here. Why didn't she have a career this side of the Atlantic? The staging is traditional and the scenery recalls Art Deco. There's really no weakness and the chorus Ah, pensiero which became the unofficial Italian national anthem will melt your heart.

Rating:
Summary: Great Early Verdi
Review: Late Verdi may be awesome but I've always had a passion for the savage crudity of his early years and Nabucco satisfies that passion wonderfully. This is the biblical story of the Assyrian kind who defies God and is struck insane.This 1987 production from LaScala is great on all counts. Muti loves this music and throws himself into it with a vengence. Bruson is at the height of his powers. Dhimitrova's part is a killer and contributed to the ending of Verdi's second wife's career. No such problem for our diva here. Why didn't she have a career this side of the Atlantic? The staging is traditional and the scenery recalls Art Deco. There's really no weakness and the chorus Ah, pensiero which became the unofficial Italian national anthem will melt your heart.

Rating:
Summary: This Nabucco... a stellar performance!
Review: Nabucco, one of Verdi's earlier operas that he completed in 1842, was the work that launched his career. The choral gem, 'Va pensiero', quickly became the unofficial national anthem for the Italians whose country was under duress from its neighbors at the time.

This performance stars Renato Bruson as Nabucco, Ghena Dimitrova as Abigaille, Paata Buchuladze as Zaccaria and Raquel Pierotti as Fenena; it is performed at the La Scala in Milan. The conductor is Riccardo Muti, whose animated performance during the overture was, to me, one of the highlights of this DVD. The video and editing was done expertly by Brian Large, whose deftness in this area (not only in this recording but others I've seen as well) seems to allow him to consistently get the best vantage points and camera angles.

The scenery is elaborate in its structure, with some surreal qualities that at times, I found a little out of context. The costumes of the principals and corps de opera were generally resplendent in quiet flat tone robes and gowns befitting the circumstances and occasion. The exception here were the two female leads(Abigaille and Fenena) whose attire could best be described as unbecoming (honestly, bordering on ugly)

The performances are sincere and powerful; the voices well controlled and vibrant. This Nabucco adequately interprets the era it tries to represent with all its religious plotting and power struggles. The audience received this production with enthusiastic applause and cheers (as it truly deserved).

The disc allows you to go directly to any scene you like and the subtitles are available in five different languages including Italian. Bravo!

All in all, a superb and wonderful recording. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: World-class entertainment
Review: The production is superb, the singers are excellent. I have seen this opera "live" but must confess that this DVD was more satisfying than the ones I attended (and we had the best seats in the hall). Based on a review I read here before buying it I expected poor quality sound and picture, but I still wanted it for the cast involved. I must say that on my equipment the sound is great and the picture quality is very good (and I am very fussy on both these qualities). If you love this opera, get this DVD. You will want to play it often.

Rating:
Summary: Must have opera DVD
Review: This is a magnificent recording of Verdi's first big hit "Nabucco", recorded in 1987 in the Italy's greatest opera house - La Scala. The production is as great as it gets, in the traditional Italian style: glorious sets and costumes, great singers and wonderful chorus work. This is very much reminding Franco Zeffirelli's style: extraordinary realism and beauty. Filming is overall good and camerawork is excellent, however the picture quality is not very crispy and the sound sometimes reminds those old worn out tapes, which sometimes gets quite annoying. I think "Kultur" could have done better job with sound part on this DVD. Hence just four stars. Riccardo Muti's energetic and passionate conducting is as superb as acting and singing of all leading cast. Must mention excellent work of Renato Bruson as Nabucco, and unforgettable performance of the great Georgian singer Paata Burchuladze, as Zacharia. Choruses in Nabucco is in my opinion the most melodic and heartbreaking ever written for any opera, and "Va Pensiero" in this recording is indeed stunning both vocally and visually. This is a must have DVD for both opera fans and those who want to buy their first opera on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT EARLY VERDI
Review: This is a perfect, traditional production. All involved perform their roles to perfection. The chorus, Bruson and Dimitrova are exceptional.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT EARLY VERDI
Review: This is a perfect, traditional production. All involved perform their roles to perfection. The chorus, Bruson and Dimitrova are exceptional.