Verdi - Attila / Jérôme Savary · Riccardo Muti · Samuel Ramey · Teatro alla Scala

Rating:
Summary: Ramey gives powerhouse performance in rare Verdi!
Review: From the foreboding overture to the Ceasar-esque finale, Verdi's "Attila" is a nonstop musical and dramatic masterpiece. Samuel Ramey gives a stellar perfomance as the Hun leader. Cheryl Studer and Giorgio Zancanaro round out the cast that truly breath firey life into Verdi's music. This La Scala production is conducted by the powerful Riccardo Muti, who gives a militaristic yet passionate treatment of the score. This recording is a must-have for opera fans of any level. "Attila" is three acts of rousing, passionate, and glorious theater, performed in the grand opera tradition for which it was written.

Rating:
Summary: First-Rate Performance of a First-Rate Opera
Review: I can't tell you how much this opera surprised me. The Amazon.com review has it right: Attila has been unjustly neglected. Surely this is because the title role is for a barritone rather than the more popular tenor or soprano voice. Nevertheless, Samuel Ramey is fantastic and Muti is in total command of the orchestra. They fully win over the notoriously demanding La Scala audience. Bottom-line: The music and performances are beautiful. Get this DVD and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Must have for Verdi fans...Probably coming up again??
Review: Most of the production is said here. I just can say that this is probably the best opera of those "minor operas" verdi wrote. Picture is very good, considering the quality resolution at that time. The stereo sound is worth it. There's no choice to change or switch off subtitles.
This production is from 1991 and from Image. Now, when there are many productions from LaScala coming up, and the "I vespri Siciliani" (from Image too) was re-released by Opus Arte, i guess we can have this opera again in the market. So, take the chance. Is definitely a must have.


Rating:
Summary: Early Verdi superbly sung!
Review: Ramey and Studer triumph in a spectacular performance. Ramey's resonant bass rings true and powerful. Ranks up there with his Mefistofele! I cannot imagine this role more superbly sung and acted. Chicago Lyric Opera is in for much excitement next season when he does this role for them with such commanding and thrilling tone. Studer sings in the same league and calibre: rich tone, secure and powerful high notes with dramatic intensity, simply an all out no stops performance. Her soft notes are beautiful and her duets with the tenor Kaludov are equally memorable. He is not quite in her league but he does some fine singing. Wonderful production. Only Zancanaro lets down the side a litle but then it is not much of a role to start with. La Scala can be proud of this performance - which ranks high with their Domingo "Fanciulla" - and we are luckier than the audience present since we can see it at will.

Rating:
Summary: As good as this opera can get.
Review: Ramey makes the whole thing work. His voice and ability to dominate the stage make this production work. Atilla is not a great opera, but when well performed, as it is here, it's enjoyable and impressive.

Rating:
Summary: As good as this opera can get.
Review: Ramey makes the whole thing work. His voice and ability to dominate the stage make this production work. Atilla is not a great opera, but when well performed, as it is here, it's enjoyable and impressive.

Rating:
Summary: First rate performance of second-rate opera
Review: Sorry, I'm going to be a dissenter here. Can't add anything to the evaluation of the performance itself, since the other reviewers have said all that needs to be said.
But the work itself is not intrinsically outstanding. Good, but not great. Since I take it that one's rating ought to be of the intrinsic artistic value of the performance, that means that significant weight ought to be placed on the merits of the underlying work.
I place emphasis on this for the following reason: based on the reviews here, I was thinking of purchasing Attila. After all, I reasoned, better buy a great performance of a lesser work than a so-so performance of a central work. Fortunately, I have access to a good college library which has an excellent opera collection. I'm glad I didn't spend my money.
If you have lots of money, and have seen Traviata, Don Giovanni, and Walkure four or five times each, then sure, treat yourself to something different. But if you are new to opera, and are looking for a great introduction to the form, there are plenty of very good to excellent performances of more central works available here. Go for those first.

Rating:
Summary: A great Attila
Review: Studer is absolutely magnificent in her role here and both her singing mates do a fine job. The love duet in the early part of the opera is absolutely one of the best I have ever heard or seen. A great presentation and no one should be without it.

Rating:
Summary: Why is this DVD out of print?
Review: The Christianity was a bit much. I wanted to throw up. There was simply no plot at all. And this opera more than any I have ever seen exemplifies the stereotypical idea of opera with characters standing rooted to the spot just singing. That said, this was a marvelous experience. Rich, beautiful, powerful music. Ramey was nothing less than great. (And that wonderful open embracing smile during his curtain call!) Studer was the jewel of Attila. Everyone else was okay. I spent an afternoon searching every record store and website I knew of to find a copy of this glorious opera. There is simply none to be had except the $145 disc here on Amazon. No. (I noticed an "Et tu, Brute?" at the end (spelling of Brute?), Verdi (or his librettist) did love Shakespeare.) I loved and ejoyed the hell out of this opera, with the reservations given, fortunately I have the same cast, conductor and orchestra on CD, so I am not completely disappointed. But I would really like to have this DVD (I rented the one I just watched). The sets and scene changes were lush and delicious, the colors were beautiful, the music was beautiful. This is a wonderful opera. Maybe it will come back into print, it's alive in Europe I found out, but the DVD won't play in this country.

Rating:
Summary: Atilla
Review: The music and video were wonderful. I have not had the oportunity to see this Opera in the theater so this was a real treat. My husband and I have watched it several times since we bought it from Amazon.