Donizetti - L'Elisir d'Amore / Rescigno, Pavarotti, Blegen, Metropolitan Opera

Rating:
Summary: Good show
Review: Although tempted to give this one five stars, I will say that although Pavarotti is definitely in better shape than we see him in later videos, some might still find him too chubby for the role and also his acting still leaves some to be desired. That aside, his singing is superb, and his acting is the best you generally get from him. I personally find him enjoyable enough for the role visually, and well, downright endearing. All the other cast members are a delight. My favorite is the late great buffo, Sesto Bruscantini - very famous in earlier decades - a once practicing lawyer, who knew over 100 opera roles. His comic timing is absolutely perfect as Dulcamara, and the Metropolitan Opera sets for this production are very engaging with Dr. Dulcamara coming down in a hot-air balloon. It's a terrific show all-around. As long as you are not a Pavarotti-hater, you will be very pleased with this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Una maravilla y un lujo
Review: Antes que todo, debo declarar mi gusto por Pavarotti y mi afán por adquirir cuanto Cd o DVD aparezca de él.
Dicho lo anterior, puedo afirmar, con conocimiento de causa, que de todos los DVD de ópera en que participa ese tenor, este de "El Elíxir del Amor" es, como lo dice el título de esta revisión, una maravilla y un lujo.
Alguna vez le escuché decir a Pavarotti que Donizetti le agradaba mucho, pues su voz se adaptaba perfectamente a los requerimiento musicales de ese autor. Pues bien, eso es patente en esta ópera, en que la perfección y gracia de su canto y su presencia en el papel de Nemorino, son verdaderamente increíbles: Logra todos los tonos naturalmente, se desenvuelve en el personaje como si no lo estuviera representando sino que fuera él mismo, y ejecuta y enfrenta arias y duetos en forma magistral (de hecho, se escucha mejor que en grabaciones de estudio, pues los temas llevan impresa la emoción de estar viviendo la historia en el escenario).
Mas no sólo Pavarotti deslumbra en esta ópera: La interpretación de Adina es muy buena, con una soprano que da, además, con la figura de la mujer: Estilizada, fina, atrayente, y con la mirada que tienen las féminas que se saben cortejadas y que creen poder manejar a su amaño a los varones.
Para qué decir del Dr. Dulcamara, y del enamorado Sargento.
En fin, por todo ello (y no quiero agregar más para dejar algo de sorpresa a quien vea u oiga este DVD) recomiendo abiertamente esta ópera. Y conste que la recomiendo no sólo para los amantes del canto lírico, sino también y especialmente para aquellos que tienen curiosidad por ver una ópera completa: Esta es una buena opción, pues es fácil de escuchar y tiene ritmos que, por italianos, se quedan grabados de inmediato en la mente (... dando ganas de tararearlos después).
Cinco estrellas... Sin ninguna duda.

Rating:
Summary: A heartwarming show!
Review: If, like me, you love Pavarotti but are used to seeing the older man who can hardly move, you will find it a great pleasure just to see him literally bouncing around the stage here! It's worth the price just for that cheerful sight! He is absolutely perfect as the lovestruck and touchingly gullible country bumpkin, and it's plain to see that he loves playing as well as singing this part. He perfectly portrays the suffering, the strength, and the simple dignity of Nemorino, as well as his humorous and lovable side. And he's in terrific voice here!

The rest of the cast is also excellent and the ensemble singing is absolutely fabulous. For me, there were no weak links in this performance.

The opera is staged in a traditional manner without overly elaborate or overly realistic sets. It won't be everybody's cup of tea, but I find it charming and exactly suitable to Donizetti's style. The sound and the camera work can be uneven (that's why 4 and not 5 stars) but that is, unfortunately, pretty common in these films of staged performances, and it doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the show; I just adjust the volume up and down as needed.

This is the DVD to own for those times when you want to be swept away by the beauty of great opera music, but don't want to end up weeping -- yep, the hero and heroine both live to the end! Like I said at the beginning: it's simply Heartwarming!