Verdi - Falstaff / Muti, Maestri, Frittoli, Florez, Frontali, Antonacci, Busseto Teatro Verdi

Rating:
Summary: A Marvelous Production of Superior Singers!
Review: I loved this production. It was lively and colorful.The costumes were copies of the 1913 production. The singers were the best, starting with the principal singer Ambroglio Maestri. Barbara Frittoli, Frontali, Mula and Antonacci were absolutely fantastic. Bernadette Manca di Nissa was a great Mrs. Quickly. Although the stage was small, the singers were able to make the best of space. The stereo surround sound was really wonderful. The Met production cannot compare to this one. Costumes were simpler and sets not too appealing. The best of this Falstaff was the clarity of the Italian. Every singer's Italian was crisp and clear for anyone who understands Italian to catch every nuance. Bravo Verdi!
What octets and quartets!

Rating:
Summary: Lifeless Exhumation
Review: A comic masterpiece is given a dull performance in this restaging of a 1913 "historical" production. The stage is severely cramped, making for some bizarre directorial touches, the sets not much more than painted flats, the costumes (particularly those for the female leads) quite unattractive. For me the biggest drawback of the performance is Ambrosio Maestri's characterization of Falstaff. Maestri plays the knight like a complete buffoon, totally for laughs (and is, bizarrely, made up to look just like Bozo the Clown). Having recently seen Kevin Kline's brilliant, understated interpretation at Lincoln Center, I'm of the confirmed opinion that to play Falstaff successfully, an actor (or singer, as the case may be) must play him completely straight. Yes, Falstaff is a fool, but HE certainly doesn't seem himself that way; nor can whoever is playing him. Bryn Terfel knows this, as he so beautifully demonstrated at the Met last year, and on a Covent Garden DVD, also with Barbara Frittoli. (The less said about that abominable production, the better). Florez is in wonderful voice here (when is he not), as is his Nanetta, but the performance never takes off. I look forward to Zeffirelli's Met Opera production coming out on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Lifeless Exhumation
Review: A comic masterpiece is given a dull performance in this restaging of a 1913 "historical" production. The stage is severely cramped, making for some bizarre directorial touches, the sets not much more than painted flats, the costumes (particularly those for the female leads) quite unattractive. For me the biggest drawback of the performance is Ambrosio Maestri's characterization of Falstaff. Maestri plays the knight like a complete buffoon, totally for laughs (and is, bizarrely, made up to look just like Bozo the Clown). Having recently seen Kevin Kline's brilliant, understated interpretation at Lincoln Center, I'm of the confirmed opinion that to play Falstaff successfully, an actor (or singer, as the case may be) must play him completely straight. Yes, Falstaff is a fool, but HE certainly doesn't seem himself that way; nor can whoever is playing him. Bryn Terfel knows this, as he so beautifully demonstrated at the Met last year, and on a Covent Garden DVD, also with Barbara Frittoli. (The less said about that abominable production, the better). Florez is in wonderful voice here (when is he not), as is his Nanetta, but the performance never takes off. I look forward to Zeffirelli's Met Opera production coming out on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Perfection -- or very close!
Review: As nearly perfect as an opera DVD is likely to be. It's a masterpiece of an opera (Verdi's best, in my opinion) with wonderful singing and beautiful scenery and costumes.

It's good that DVDs don't wear out with repeated playing, for I surely would have had to replace my copy by now.

You will not regret buying this one.

Rating:
Summary: BEST FALLSTAFF in DVD ever
Review: This is a traditional production with world greatest singer. I own every Fallstaff available on DVD and this one is definitely the BEST of all....this is a MUST HAVE DVD.

Rating:
Summary: BEST FALLSTAFF in DVD ever
Review: This is a traditional production with world greatest singer. I own every Fallstaff available on DVD and this one is definitely the BEST of all....this is a MUST HAVE DVD.

Rating:
Summary: A perfect performance of a perfect opera!
Review: This was just a fabulous production overall! Every singer was charming and perfectly suited to their parts. Juan Diego Florez had to sing full tilt a few times just to be heard, but he was still more charming in this than anything else I have ever seen him in. Maestri was wonderful as Falstaff. Truly wonderful. Barbara Frittoli, once again, proves herself to be the most formidable operatic talent alive. She is just a superb actress and a superb singer. The entire production was solid and VERY enjoyable. This is worth the money!! Buy it, you won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: A superb performance
Review: You will hardly find a Falstaff like this once again in your life. There is not a flaw in this DVD: the singers, the orchestra, the direction, the sound, la mise en scêne, they are all simply extraordinary. The most enjoyable surprise is Ambrosio Maestri, who performs the best Falstaff I have ever seen in my life. I used to think Bryn Terfel was the best singer in the world for this role, but it sufficed one minute listening to Maestri's voice to change my mind immediately. The warmth of his voice and the quality of his acting make him a perfect Sir John. Roberto Frontali and Barbara Fritolli as Mr and Mrs Ford are also wonderful. Juan Diego Flores (the great Peruvian tenor) and Inva Mula are splendid as Fenton and Nanetta. The rest of the cast are also brilliant, and Riccardo Mutti's conduction is exceptional. Finally, I want to mention that this DVD was so hard to find that the only way to get it was through the Amazon's British store

Rating:
Summary: A superb performance
Review: You will hardly find a Falstaff like this once again in your life. There is not a flaw in this DVD: the singers, the orchestra, the direction, the sound, la mise en scêne, they are all simply extraordinary. The most enjoyable surprise is Ambrosio Maestri, who performs the best Falstaff I have ever seen in my life. I used to think Bryn Terfel was the best singer in the world for this role, but it sufficed one minute listening to Maestri's voice to change my mind immediately. The warmth of his voice and the quality of his acting make him a perfect Sir John. Roberto Frontali and Barbara Fritolli as Mr and Mrs Ford are also wonderful. Juan Diego Flores (the great Peruvian tenor) and Inva Mula are splendid as Fenton and Nanetta. The rest of the cast are also brilliant, and Riccardo Mutti's conduction is exceptional. Finally, I want to mention that this DVD was so hard to find that the only way to get it was through the Amazon's British store