Dvorak - Rusalka / Robert Carsen, James Conlon - Fleming, Urbanova, Diadkova, Larin, Opéra de Paris

Rating:
Summary: Great Rusalka DVD to have
Review: The is the only Rusalka DVD available in original Czech. And it boasts Renee Fleming in the title role.
As usual, she is magnificent. And it is great to see her in addition to hearing her. In general, I find her singing more dramatic and less silkily beautiful than in her celebrated recording under Mackerras(Decca). This is probably what one would expect from a live performance. The other singers are all great, with Sergei Larin as the prince, Franz Hawlata as the watersprite, Larissa Diadkova as Jezibaba and Eva Urbanova as the foreign princess. The orchestra under James Conlon performs ably.
The set and direction are very modern and to these eyes somewhat controversial. But they are interesting, effective and totally valid.
The audience is very well behaved(or some applauses are edited out?), bursting into applause, justifiably, after the famous first act "Mesicku ..." aria, but before the agitated orchestral lead-out, which I felt disrupts the flow slightly.
The film direction is well done in the most part. The camera occasionally lets you see how a scene change is done, which leaves you wondering what the audience in Bastille was actually seeing at other scene changes where the camera "naturally" cuts from one scene to another.
There are very minor cuts to the score. The one I noticed were the solos by the 3 wood nymphs before their trio in the third act.
I don't have a 5.1 system yet, so I cannot comment on the surround sound, but at least the stereo sound is very good.
All in all, the DVD is well worth having.
Technical detail: 2 DVDs(1 DVD9 + 1 DVD5, I thought one DVD9 should have been able to hold 155 mins of video + trailers.)
NTSC, Region 0.
Subtitles in English, French, Itatian, Spanish.
Soundtracks in Czech, Linear Stereo + AC3 Dolby Digital + DTS.
Booklet contains track listings and a synopsis.
Trailers include plugs for other TDK opera DVDs

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding in all ways but one
Review: The singing and acting were outstanding, but I did not understand the "concept". I have little complaint against updating operas, so long as they make sense. I liked the pool of water, which I thought was very artistic and effective...but the above bedroom confused me. The "mirror-image" seemed unnecessary. Overall I recommend this, but wish there had been an interview with the producer/director to explain the particular vision for this production.

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for singing, -1 for production
Review: The singing is top drawer and the production is just not very interesting to me. Years ago, I saw Renee in a beautiful traditional production in San Diego and I kept wishing that this was a film of that production with these wonderful singers. I just "didn't get" the production at all. The acting and singing are certainly worth the price of this DVD, however, and I do recommend it if only for the performances. Renee is wonderful, but I have heard her sing her signature aria with more meaning at other times not to fault this rendering. The music is just gorgeous and diction not really understandable per my friend who speaks fluent Czeh but since I don't, it didn't bother me one bit. Subtitles are available. I recommend it for the music and the singing which is what opera is all about anyway! James Conlon can do no wrong in my little play book!

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for singing, -1 for production
Review: The singing is top drawer and the production is just not very interesting to me. Years ago, I saw Renee in a beautiful traditional production in San Diego and I kept wishing that this was a film of that production with these wonderful singers. I just "didn't get" the production at all. The acting and singing are certainly worth the price of this DVD, however, and I do recommend it if only for the performances. Renee is wonderful, but I have heard her sing her signature aria with more meaning at other times not to fault this rendering. The music is just gorgeous and diction not really understandable per my friend who speaks fluent Czeh but since I don't, it didn't bother me one bit. Subtitles are available. I recommend it for the music and the singing which is what opera is all about anyway! James Conlon can do no wrong in my little play book!

Rating:
Summary: Singing-5 stars,production-1 star
Review: To be brief, this DVD is still worth buying for the great singing and sound quality. The production is terrible----- another example of cheap modern eurotrash.The whole ambience is cold, unlike the magical fantasy of the Met/ Vienna production which should be taped instead.It is cheaper than to buy the full CD set anyway. So just turn off the TV screen and enjoy !