Rating: 
Summary: The best "La forza" I know so far...
Review: The best "La forza" I know so far..., Tragic, amazingly performed and unforgettebly staged. Very nice.
Rating: 
Summary: Great performance, bad cuts.
Review: The only thing stopping me from giving this excellent DVD 5 stars is the 15 minute cut from the beginning of act 3 scene 2. I almost cried when I realized they had cut the famous soldiers chorus from act 3. Leontyne Price is exellent as is the rest of the cast. I highly recomend it, just brace yourself for the cuts.
Rating:
Summary: Great performance, bad cuts.
Review: The only thing stopping me from giving this excellent DVD 5 stars is the 15 minute cut from the beginning of act 3 scene 2. I almost cried when I realized they had cut the famous soldiers chorus from act 3. Leontyne Price is exellent as is the rest of the cast. I highly recomend it, just brace yourself for the cuts.
Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: This DVD of the 1984 MET production of one of the greatest verismo operas ever composed is a wondeful testament to one of the finest Forza productions ever. The real reason for purchasing this DVD is to see Leontyne Price's performance of one of her signature roles in the only complete opera with her in it available today. Ms. Price was 57 years old during this performance, and although the voice had darkened and some of Price's "bad" habits are more evident then in her younger years (sliding, diction) - it still omits massive amounts of huge rich sound (Pace,Pace... will leave you paralyzed), with a chilling upper register. The other atvantage of seeing Ms. Price later in her life is she had played Leonora many times by the time this production occured, and for a singer that was not known for her acting abilities, Price does a tremendous job of exposing the tormented Leonora, and ultimately leading her to the destiny which was written for her. The supporting performances are also quite fine - in particular the baritone of Leo Nucci (the duet with the tenor is phenominal), and fine performance of little known soprano Isola Jones. The MET Orc, under Jimmy Levine's baton, deliever an urgent, exciting performance that will keep you on the edge of your seat during the entire opera. The picture and sound are not top rate for DVD, the picture can be slightly fuzzy at times,and the the camera goes out of focus once or twice when camera men go in for close-ups, but these nuances are easily overlooked by the grand sets, stunning costumes, and some of the greatest singing of Verdi's music around. Buy this DVD, and see for yourself why Leontyne Price sat on the throne of Verdian sorranos, even thirty years into her carrier.
Rating:
Summary: An Important MET Document With An Almost Perfect Cast
Review: This March 24, 1984 matinee performance of Forza Del Destino at the Met documents the old Eugene Berman production which premiered in 1952 with Milanov, Tucker, Warren and Siepi. The sets do not look their age (indeed they look far better than the many "concept" productions we are forced to sit through today) and the camerawork and lighting bring the opera vividly to life on the small screen. Now for the singing. Giacomini and Nucci are the big, "stand up and sing" voices needed in this opera and they deliver as promised. Some vocal insecurity from Giacomini toward the begining of the opera may be due to nerves -- but things improve as the opera proceeds. Isola Jones gives a sassy and vocally smokey interpretation of Preziosilla -- a role usually given almost to comprimarios today. As for Leontyne Price -- her devoted fans will bask in her vocal sumptuous performance. Admittedly, however, this is rather late Price and by this time in her career, while still vocally secure and shimmering, many, many mannerisms have crept into her interpretation that in the beginning of her career would never have been attempted or tolerated. Her over-employment of straight tone, exaggerated downward portamentos and occasional lack of rhythmic precision give this reviewer a great deal of trouble -- however, many of her steadfast fans will love this performance no matter what -- to each their own. David Stivender's then magnificent Met Chorus delivers some memorable moments: particularly the men in the monks scene with Leonora. Levine as usual conducts with masterful drive and sensitivity. Except for my stylistic reservations about Price,( and those may not affect you,) I highly recommend this Met Telecast on Pioneer for any serious opera lovers collection. Elektra and Lohengrin are rumored to be released soon. Keep them coming Pioneer -- only Elisir, Don Carlo and Troyens remain unreleased on DVD after that.
Rating: 
Summary: Abandon all hope ye who enter here!
Review: This recorded performance is a document of everything that was wrong with the MET in the 80s. As a matter of fact, it's a document of everything that was wrong with opera in the 80s: vast dinosaur productions starring famous singers past their prime; Levine's orchestra so big and brassy that you couldn't hear the singers if you wanted to; ancient sets and costumes that look like Miss Haversham's aborted wedding party.It's actually a good thing that travesties like this were recorded: Not so easy to take our amazingly gifted younger singers for granted; not so easy to forget the musical poverty Italian opera fans endured during the 80s. Just listen here to the fanatical "bravas" after Price whoops and saws through number after number. You'd think they'd been stranded at the airport for years listening to nothing but planes taking off. Oh, and this opera is in Italian, though you wouldn't know that from LP's mushy diction. I'm sorry, but better to do a concert performance than pretend that this sort of thing is theater. Alas, opera as porn. It would be funny if it wasn't so painful. Giacomini and Nucci are just as bad when you can hear them over Levine's din. It's amazing to realize that the Eaglens and Gorchakovas of our time trained during these lean years. One can only hope that these wonders will be recorded and that opera will find new audiences who will justify its future. Sooner than later, somebody is going to realize that DVD and opera is a marriage made in heaven, and new releases will invigorate both. Until then, cover your ears when they turn this one on.
Rating:
Summary: Abandon all hope ye who enter here!
Review: This recorded performance is a document of everything that was wrong with the MET in the 80s. As a matter of fact, it's a document of everything that was wrong with opera in the 80s: vast dinosaur productions starring famous singers past their prime; Levine's orchestra so big and brassy that you couldn't hear the singers if you wanted to; ancient sets and costumes that look like Miss Haversham's aborted wedding party. It's actually a good thing that travesties like this were recorded: Not so easy to take our amazingly gifted younger singers for granted; not so easy to forget the musical poverty Italian opera fans endured during the 80s. Just listen here to the fanatical "bravas" after Price whoops and saws through number after number. You'd think they'd been stranded at the airport for years listening to nothing but planes taking off. Oh, and this opera is in Italian, though you wouldn't know that from LP's mushy diction. I'm sorry, but better to do a concert performance than pretend that this sort of thing is theater. Alas, opera as porn. It would be funny if it wasn't so painful. Giacomini and Nucci are just as bad when you can hear them over Levine's din. It's amazing to realize that the Eaglens and Gorchakovas of our time trained during these lean years. One can only hope that these wonders will be recorded and that opera will find new audiences who will justify its future. Sooner than later, somebody is going to realize that DVD and opera is a marriage made in heaven, and new releases will invigorate both. Until then, cover your ears when they turn this one on.
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