Rating: 
Summary: in a word - terrible!
Review: This one will appeal to neophytes who uncritically swoon over Pavarotti's mannerisms and don't know any better. To call this poor "performance" of one of Verdi's great operas even "adequate" (except for Gruberova), much less "great", is a sign to go back and do more listening. Avoid this turkey. Pavarotti is his post-70's below-par, trying-to-compensate-by-mugging worst. Wixell tries hard but is just not up to the role that was so superbly performed by Warren or Gobbi. Ponnelle's direction is bizarre (as usual). For a better sung and more honest performance, I recommend the English National Opera video. Ok, it's sung in English and updated BUT the singing is superior on all counts, the translation is workable, and the updating doesn't violate the spirit of Verdi's drama.
Rating: 
Summary: Magnificent opera in a movie performance
Review: This opera video while in fact a movie performance with shootings on natural background scenery, is performed so beautifully and magnificent,that it give more emphasize to the sinister nature and tragical story of the jester Rigoletto and his daughter. We enjoy the performance of Ingvar Wixell as Rigoletto, who sung so splendidly and moved our hearts to the tragical condition he is involved. His performance is matched in perfection by the delightful and brilliant performance of Edita Gruberova, who appeared so magnifently exposing the lovely fairylike character of Gilda. I have seen several of Gruberova's performances, but in this opera her singing is so beautiful and as such convince the world of her superiority in performing the innocent lovesick daughter of Rigoletto. Luciano Pavarotti is already so famous that nobody will deny the beauty of his singing. However, his name does not emphasize the success of this video as disappointingly his acting is not quite so convincing as his other performances that I have seen. Nevertheless, we can still enjoy his splendid voice and watch the magnificent performances of the other singers.
Rating: 
Summary: Great production esp. for opera newbies
Review: This outstanding production of one of the greatest operas ever written is a fantastic way to introduce yourself (or someone you know) to opera for the first time, as well as a production that more experienced opera fans will cherish. The story and music are perfect, the acting and singing superb and the cinematography is excellent. This production grabs you from the beginning and never lets up. Don't pass up this DVD!
Although the cover features a photo of Pavarotti as the lecherous Duke of Mantua, this production belongs to Ingmar Wixill, the real star, who simply shines as Rigoletto. He is a superb actor and manages to convey all the complexity of personality that the character of the hunchbacked Jester demands. You will in turn despise him, pity him, and ultimately empathize with him as the tragedy unfolds. Other reviews have criticized him for not being a strong enough singer to pull off the role convincingly. I disagree completely with this. When he cries out "Mia Fillia!" (my daughter!) in despair it will send chills down your spine. The coarse, complex character of Rigoletto should not be sung by a honey voiced baritone anyway. Watching and listening to Wixill sing the aria "Cortigiani, vil razza" still gives me goosebumps after many viewings.
Pavarotti is of course superb in the role of the Duke, acting fickle and singing his famous arias. "Questo o quella" and "La Donna e Mobile" are from this opera and he is in top form. What others have called his "mugging" for the camera to me portrayed very well his fickle nature; because you don't see it often it doesn't strike me as overdone. Pavarotti's real gift is not his acting but his voice (of course) and I unequivically add that his use of language or diction is distinctive and outstanding. If you listen carefully to the way he colors particular words and phrases to add meaning as he sings them you will come to appreciate him all the more.
I must confess that the first time I saw this production I disliked Gruberova as Gilda in the first act. Gilda seemed to me to be an airhead, and although Gruberova's voice is beautiful, she didn't seem to know what to do with her hands and didn't add any depth to the character. That changes as the story unfolds, however, and Gruberova's Gilda develops more complexity. All of the characters in this production are complex, but Gruberova seems to develop her character the most over the course of the production. When she sings the word "anguish!" during "tutte le feste al tempio" as she tells her father about how she met the duke, I am totally with her in that anguish. Then, when held in her father's arms again, she is a frightened little girl. I am convinced she is perfect as Gilda in the quartet that comes near the end of the opera.The other characters are excellent as well. Maddalena is voluptuous, and Sparafucile the assasin repulsive (but perhaps has more honor than all the rest!) It is pointless to me to compare a film to a staged production. The film maker has different skills to bring to bear than does the director of a stage production. Camera angles become formost rather than placement of the characters on the stage. I personally like the way the focus changes in the film and the way the cinematography matches the mood of the music. But nothing will take the place of a real opera production on stage. I highly recommend this production. Enjoy it for what it is and you will treasure it.
Rating:
Summary: Rigoletto
Review: This version of Rigoletto was wonderful-the music of course, and the performances. Pavarotti is in great voice. The movie-like staging for the most part is good. This is not a recorded stage version; it is a filmed version especially for the video.
Rating:
Summary: A marvelous, horrifying film of Rigoletto
Review: This video is not Rigoletto at Verona, it is the opera produced as a film in Mantua, the actual setting of the opera. The town, the river, and the splendid ducal palace are the settings for what is really a gorgeous and thrilling production. In addition to Pavarotti as the duke, the cast features Ingmar Wixell as a superb Rigoletto and Edita Gruberova as an ethereal and convincing Gilda. The horrors of the story are powerfully and movingly played out through tremendous singing and a terrific production job. Fabulous, and haunting.
Rating:
Summary: lush and vibrant
Review: usually i prefer opera dvd's filmed in an opera house . if directed properly they can capture the basic theatricality of the event . eno's 'xerxes' and covent garden's 'carmen' readily come to mind . needless to say not all dvd's capture the feel of actually being there . this is the first site-specific production that fully succeeds . the cinematography is ravishing . the costumes and make-up are inventive and beautifully rendered . the locations were wisely chosen and illuminate the plot . equally important the singing seems 'live' and finely sung . pavorotti actually looks handsome and displays rare acting ability . i keep on going back to it , which is rare for me . i think this dvd would be a good intro for friends who might think opera is over their heads , or others who labor under the notion that opera is dull
Rating:
Summary: balance
Review: Vi esta ópera que es una de mis favoritas. El video y el canto de los personajes es simplemente maravilloso. Lo único defectuoso es sólo un regular balance del audio. La distorsión al final de la overtura es muy grande. Además, deberían arreglar el lipsing en varias partes de la misma. Con las técnicas computacionales actuales como RRO TOOLS o AUDIOVISION, no sería un gran trabajo el mejorarla y entregarle al público una verdadera obra maestra.
Rating:
Summary: ¡Bravo!
Review: Vi este DVD en España y me dio muchísimo placer. Los cantantes son de la primera clase, y se destacan Wixell, Pavarotti y Gruberova. Para los que no conocen bien la magia de la ópera, les recomiendo este DVD para llegar a conocerla--la historia de Rigoletto es buena e interestante, contiene mucha acción, y no es una obra tan larga. Los cantantes cantan como nunca y logran dar una representación que es verdaderamente inolvidable.
Rating:
Summary: Indeed, "Rigoletto" is the best opera ever written
Review: Watching this film-opera of "Rigoletto" gets you the confidence of saying that "Rigoletto" indeed is the best opera ever written. Why? Simply, because, this movie gives you the correct idea, how deep, dramatic and full of action the story of "Rigoletto" really is. This is the best story ever set to music. This is wellknown fact, but this film gives you more. You simply can not skip any single detail because everything is so obviously and perfectly done. Begining from the prelude and magnificent first act. What a staging. I am really stunned! And the fourth act where drama comes to its conclusion. I think the most amazing about this film is, how redicolous could it sound, acting of Sparafucile, murderer. I knew that Feruccio Furlanetto was great singer but he turned out to be the great actor too. He is so ugly, dirty, dressed in terribly worn clothes and at the same time so real. Second amazing thing is Pavarotti's singing. First time in my life I really have a doubt, that maybe he is better Duce then Alfredo Kraus (but still, I don't think so). Edita Gruberova is excellent Gilda. Her singing is so free, so beautifull, reminding sometimes legendary Renata Scotto. Now Rigoletto - Ingvar is great, but of course not the best Rigoletto. The best is Bastianini. However, as the actor, Ingvar fits the role to perfection, and finally I have to mentioned the outstanding performance from Viena Orchestra and Chorus. Orchestra sounds so perfect. So finally, I want to say that I hate modern productions of an old operas, this is not correct. Opera should be staged as it was originally thought. And this movie gives us idea how exactly "Rigoletto" is supposed to be staged. So my suggestion is: get this video, this is must have. Maybe the best film-opera ever made.
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