Poulenc - Dialogues des Carmélites / Marthe Keller · Jan Latham-Koenig · N. Denize · P. Petibon · L'Opéra National du Rhin

Rating:
Summary: Carmelites
Review: The opera dragged on and I didn't think it was ever going to end. The voices were wonderful but the cast was horrble. I do not reccomend this opera at all.

Rating:
Summary: Do better, ArtHaus!
Review: This is one of the most powerful opera productions I've ever seen, hindered by poor quality video and audio. the audio isn't as bad as on their DVD of Salieri's _Falstaff_, where the speakers sound constantly overloaded, though it's still a problem. The digital artifacting is even worse. It's a great opera, powerfully staged and filmed, but it looks like a budget DVD that ought to sell for $3.99. They're taking advantage of opera fans on the assumption that they are rich, and putting out shoddily authored DVDs of great productions. Unless they do a serious reauthoring of the disc, I'll try to find it used, whcih isn't bloody likely. The presentation quality isn't worth what they're asking for it.

Rating:
Summary: Do better, ArtHaus!
Review: This is one of the most powerful opera productions I've ever seen, hindered by poor quality video and audio. the audio isn't as bad as on their DVD of Salieri's _Falstaff_, where the speakers sound constantly overloaded, though it's still a problem. The digital artifacting is even worse. It's a great opera, powerfully staged and filmed, but it looks like a budget DVD that ought to sell for $3.99. They're taking advantage of opera fans on the assumption that they are rich, and putting out shoddily authored DVDs of great productions. Unless they do a serious reauthoring of the disc, I'll try to find it used, whcih isn't bloody likely. The presentation quality isn't worth what they're asking for it.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for Minimalist Staging
Review: This opera doesn't lose much from minimalist staging, which is exactly what it gets in the Opera du Rhin's production. I compare it to a production that the Lyric Opera of Boston did a few years ago, also minimalist, and equally effective. It's all psychology, fear of life versus fear of death, religious conviction versus the expedience of bowing to the popular will, etc. None of this requires elaborate sets or costumes. All that matters are the singers' voices and mannerisms, and in this production they are more than adequate. Not every opera has to be a Met extravaganza to work.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for Minimalist Staging
Review: This opera doesn't lose much from minimalist staging, which is exactly what it gets in the Opera du Rhin's production. I compare it to a production that the Lyric Opera of Boston did a few years ago, also minimalist, and equally effective. It's all psychology, fear of life versus fear of death, religious conviction versus the expedience of bowing to the popular will, etc. None of this requires elaborate sets or costumes. All that matters are the singers' voices and mannerisms, and in this production they are more than adequate. Not every opera has to be a Met extravaganza to work.