<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Incredible stamina.Brava,Malfitano!
Review: Despite Dohnányi's bureaucratical approaches to many orgasmic bars of the opera,I think this the best Salome on DVD at the present time.The Convent Garden Orchestra was perfectly catched in translucent audio.Soloists was superb and I disagree completely previous rewiews on Catherine Malfitano because I was stupefied by her evolution on this character after Berlin performance.Her breath is enormous,her voice is fertile and brilliant,invencible to the most huge orchestral tutti just like a trumpet,and that incredible stamina on final scene.Of course she isn't a great actress but her conception is analysed at the most intelligent frame.Surely her Salome,if was naked or not,is a commanding one.Terfel sings his most imposing Jokanaan,almost cripple the setting floor when he overflows in rage and determination.In this recording I can hear fully character's off-stage imprecations against Herodias like I never heard before on cd's.Very fine Herodes by Riegel.However,I prefered this if more notes are tuned up than all but speaked.Why this "over-and-over again-sprechgesang"?.Anyway,Riegel is great here.Thus,I think many performers to Herodias elapsed too much time tied on overvibratos and untuned histerical aspects of Salome's mother,just like Anja Silja sings that(of course,Rysanek was that stupendous Herodias in Berlim).However,audiences on Royal Opera gives her an astonishing ovation.Habsburgs sets and costumes and waltzistic seven veils dance will be contested.But,if you want a well sunged DVD,not simple theatre,listen me;no Maria Ewing.This is your Salome.
Rating: 
Summary: Keep the Laser Disk
Review: Gorgeous soprano Cathy Malfitano delivers a tour de force performance of Salome which graphically depicts the Hebrew princess's journey from curiosity, through infatuation, and culminating in insanity in her amorous pursuit of the ultimate party pooper John the Baptist. Her Dance of the Seven Veils was sensual, erotic, revealing, and mesmerizing. But, unfortunately, that's not the performance on this DVD. Her stellar performance was with Deutsche Oper Berlin and that is available only on VHS and Laser Disk. This DVD recording of a Covent Garden performance has some artistic merit but just isn't in the same league.The Dance of the Seven Veils in this London performance is simply called Salome's Dance which was appropriate since we are shortchanged about 5 veils. Cathy spends a great deal of time running on and off the stage reminiscent of the Peter Sellers movie After the Fox in which Sellers directs Britt Ekland and Victor Mature to run aimlessly up and down the beach in a search for the meaning of life. At one point she was writhing on her back like a bug that had just been hit with insecticide. Not content to just watch, King Herod decided to join in and attempt to help her remove a veil. This pointless experiment with modern dance was tepid and lackluster compared with her Berlin performance. I have no regrets about purchasing this DVD. First, the audio is excellent. Second, Bryl Terfel is superb as John the Baptist. And, I adore the delectable Ms. Malfitano and would gladly purchase a recording of her singing the phone book. The regret is that since this version is on DVD her real gem probably won't make it and it's worth whatever it costs. If you want to see a first rate Salome on DVD get the one with Maria Ewing. When she drops the seventh veil you will join with King Herod and shout Wundervoil!
Rating:
Summary: My favourite opera
Review: I own this DVD of Salome, along with the rival version from ROH with Maria Ewing. They are both excellent in their own way. Let's hope that Malfitano's earlier attempt of Salome from Berlin will be released soon by NVC Arts
<< 1 >>
| 
