Verdi - Simon Boccanegra / James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera

Rating:
Summary: Vocal and dramatic mastery
Review: Boccanegra is not always considered and audience-pleaser, but this DVD could quite possibly change your mind. Four fine singers, a beautiful production (originally debuting in Chicago in 1974 with this reviewer in the Chorus) and fine video reproduction are strong recommendations. Anna Tomowa-Sintow is vocally and visually radiant in her role, especially in her duet with Boccanegra (Sherril Milnes), just listen to her long held note, steady as a rock at the end of that duet and Milnes' perfectly placed pianissimo for his final note a few seconds later. Vasile Moldoveanu never set the world on fire with his three telecasts at the Met (Don Carlo and IL Tabarro), but he is solid, reliable, easy on the eyes compared with many other tenors of his time -- and is certainly acceptable. Paul Plishka, then in his prime is a fine Fiesco and a good foil for his enemy Boccanegra. When the curtain goes up on the Council Chamber Scene, the audience gasps, (it always did in Chicago) as the enormous stained glass window dominates the entire background of the scene which (added later by Verdi) is the focal point of the opera. Has Verdi ever been more powerful than during the "Vo gridando pace" ensemble? If you don't know this opera, please take a chance on it with this video. ....if you do know this opera add it to your collection with total confidence. A treasure, and a triumph for Milnes and Tomowa-Sintow. Levine and the Met Orchestra and Chorus

aren't too shabby either: the chorus's whispered curses of "Sia maledetto!" at the end of the Council Chamber scene are hair-raising. Slightly grainy black backgrounds are the only visual drawback, but they are quickly gotten used to. Run out and plunk down your 30 or so dollars. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Boccanegra Verdi Drama at its' Best
Review: Boccanegra is not always considered and audience-pleaser, but this DVD could quite possibly change your mind. Four fine singers, a beautiful production (originally debuting in Chicago in 1974 with this reviewer in the Chorus) and fine video reproduction are strong recommendations. Anna Tomowa-Sintow is vocally and visually radiant in her role, especially in her duet with Boccanegra (Sherril Milnes), just listen to her long held note, steady as a rock at the end of that duet and Milnes' perfectly placed pianissimo for his final note a few seconds later. Vasile Moldoveanu never set the world on fire with his three telecasts at the Met (Don Carlo and IL Tabarro), but he is solid, reliable, easy on the eyes compared with many other tenors of his time -- and is certainly acceptable. Paul Plishka, then in his prime is a fine Fiesco and a good foil for his enemy Boccanegra. When the curtain goes up on the Council Chamber Scene, the audience gasps, (it always did in Chicago) as the enormous stained glass window dominates the entire background of the scene which (added later by Verdi) is the focal point of the opera. Has Verdi ever been more powerful than during the "Vo gridando pace" ensemble? If you don't know this opera, please take a chance on it with this video. ....if you do know this opera add it to your collection with total confidence. A treasure, and a triumph for Milnes and Tomowa-Sintow. Levine and the Met Orchestra and Chorus

aren't too shabby either: the chorus's whispered curses of "Sia maledetto!" at the end of the Council Chamber scene are hair-raising. Slightly grainy black backgrounds are the only visual drawback, but they are quickly gotten used to. Run out and plunk down your 30 or so dollars. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: huge disappointment
Review: Since Simone Boccanegra is my absolute favorite opera by verdi, I had a huge expectation for the DVD version by the Met. What a disappointment. The orchestration is very conventional. Levine made it sound very old fashioned. Tomowa-Sintow's Amelia is awful. Her vibrato is too much that she sounds like an aged lady. Whoever sings Paolo is the worst I've ever heard on any recordings. He can't sing a note and his appearance looks rediculous. Needless to say, Gabriele Adorno is less than mediocre. He's also a bad actor. And Sherril Milnes... I usually admire his works, but here he is just not convincing. Maybe because of the bad direction. I wasn't impressed by the setting, either. Since the quality of video is quite grainy, everything looks cheap. I just can't believe the world famous Metropolitan Opera releases such low quality DVDs. On the back cover it says "The Set, Costumes and lighting are superb - NY Times", well, that's all about it. Nothing else is worth mentioning. What a waste.

Rating:
Summary: Vocal and dramatic mastery
Review: This DVD is a testament to the artistry of Sherrill Milnes. He is vocally stunning, as well as dramatically dominating. The expression on his face as the curtain falls on the Council Chamber scene is intense. The other singers are good as well, although there are a few places where the tenor has some pitch problems. The reviewer below had a pretty accurate discription of the other stars. The father-daughter duet is marvelous and Milnes' pianissimo is emotional. The production is visually strong and thankfully faithful. Anyone who loves this work will want this, but those unfamiliar are encouraged to try it as well, especially if Verdi appeals to them. Dana Hill

Rating:
Summary: Playing it safe
Review: This is a traditional period Boccanegra (rather gloomy sets) with Milnes suitably imposing in the name part. That said, his voice is not at its best and Anna Tomowa-Sintow as Amelia is a little too matronly for my tastes. She sings affectingly when required to, though, which is more than can be said of Gabriele (Vasile Moldoveanu), probably the weakest of the principals. In the pit, James Levine drives the music too hard, so climaxes are inclined to be a touch overpowering and not a little brash. If you want to hear the subtleties and nuances of the score try the audio recording conducted by Abbado on DG - quite a revelation, and well cast, too). Video director Brian Large (usually reliable) is caught out a few times and there is the odd sensation as singers move from one side of the stage to the other and the vocal image falters, caught in a no man's land between the microphones. Very distracting. In sum, watchable enough but not one to die for.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent production
Review: This is an excellent production of what is arguably one of Verdi's finest works.

It is an opera that both my wife, Sue, and I love from the first to the final chord, and we have been very fortunate to have seen it at Covent Garden on a number of ocassions.

This production from the NY Met is damn near perfect, every nuance and facet are catered for perfectly. I have long admired the American Bariton Sherrill Milnes, here he is just perfect as the Doge Boccanegra - this could be his finest role. Others are just as perfect, such as Paul Plishka's wonderful dour Fiesco and Anna Tomowa-Sintow's moving Amelia.

I am less impressed by Vasile Moldoveanu, a kind reviewer suggested he never set the world alight. I would more unkindly suggest he is a very inferior tenor when you consider what the Met could have had available (aka, Carreras, Domingo, Kraus, Pavarotti) - but in a production and performance like this he becomes very acceptable.

This is an outstanding document of an outstanding opera. I hope you buy it. If you do you will witness Opera at it's very best. Of course, a master composer producing an absolute masterpiece is a great help. Enjoy it, you will see and hear no better.