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Rating: 
Summary: It Doesn't Get Better
Review: I couldn't agree with the editorial review more. This is about as perfect a performance as one could ever expect. Anja Silja is incredible. The drama especially shines through in Acts 2/3. Act 1 felt a little slow to me but that's because of the composer, not the performance. Only a few minor quibbles. The camera work in Act 1 jumped around too much, from one character to another, and was rather disconcerting. And what was that leather outfit for Silja during part of Act 3? Just bizzaar!! If you've never seen a Janacek opera, this should definitely be your first!
Rating:
Summary: It Doesn't Get Better
Review: I couldn't agree with the editorial review more. This is about as perfect a performance as one could ever expect. Anja Silja is incredible. The drama especially shines through in Acts 2/3. Act 1 felt a little slow to me but that's because of the composer, not the performance. Only a few minor quibbles. The camera work in Act 1 jumped around too much, from one character to another, and was rather disconcerting. And what was that leather outfit for Silja during part of Act 3? Just bizzaar!! If you've never seen a Janacek opera, this should definitely be your first!
Rating:
Summary: An Ideal Introduction to Janacek
Review: The unique headiness of Janacek's music cradles a compelling psychological drama that examines the benefits or otherwise of longevity. The opera is only 95 minutes long (similar in length to Strauss' Salome), and this DVD is a profoundly satisfying performance in every department.Silja is Emilia Marty, an opera prima donna who, despite being 337 years old (a fact unknown to everyone around her) is sexually irresistable. She has consumed an anti-ageing potion brewed by her father, and towards the end of the opera the question is raised of the desirability of such a potion being available. Smaller parts are all very well taken although Emilia so dominates the opera it wouldn't particularly matter if they weren't. Silja is perfect vocally and dramatically - although an argument could be made for Emilia to look and sound slightly younger. The production captures and illuminates the drama so well it is hard to imagine a better one. Andrew Davis conjures just the right sound from the London Philharmonic. I wasn't bothered by Brian Large's video direction myself - I found the camera always unobtrusively where I would want it. Reviews on the back cover: "Anja Silja's Emilia...is a nonpareil triumph... This is a near perfect production..." Wall Street Journal "Anja Silja... an electrifying performance... a perfect example of just what video opera can and ought to be." Opera Now. Picture format is 4:3; Dolby Digital is only Stereo 2.0; Subtitles in English, German and Spanish.
Rating:
Summary: All motions seconded....
Review: This will be considered, I'm sure, a historical performance; Silja is genius. The singing, all round, is glorious, the acting credible, the conducting is fine.
Rating:
Summary: All motions seconded....
Review: This will be considered, I'm sure, a historical performance; Silja is genius. The singing, all round, is glorious, the acting credible, the conducting is fine.
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