Saint-Saens - Samson et Dalila / Domingo, Borodina, Leiferkus, Fink, Levine, Metropolitan Opera

Rating:
Summary: Better aurally than visually...
Review: The costumes and sets are not different enough from traditional to justify their odd effects. It all just seems silly. There is no inspiration here, just red paint and kindergarten fingerprinted hand prints as "design".
But, I don't buy opera for the great visuals in the main. I'm grateful when they are there, but I can deal with most anything in that department.
However, even in the aural department, this just didn't ignite for me. Lieferkus (whom I very much like) is the wrong voice for French opera. Olga Borodina (whom I really really like) was fine, but too phlegmatic in personality for me as Dalila (better when I just listened). Domingo (Old Reliable)was in vintage Domingo form, and in Samson's great aria he was wonderful. But, all in all, this didn't light my fire. I'll go back to the San Francisco version and see how Shirley Verrett and a younger Domingo compare.

Rating:
Summary: vocal fireworks that takes place in a volcano
Review: The star of this production is Jimmy Levine and his outstanding Metropolitan Orchestra. He turns this oratorio into a sizzling opera. Too bad the singers acting doesn't ignite as well. Domingo and Borodina are in excellent voice, but seem totally uninvolved in their characters. Borodina especially is not the temptress and sex goddess that Dalila ia supposed to be. She stands and sings note perfect, but there is no interaction between her and Domingo - sparks don't fly even though the lighting director seemed to be in love with the color red. And where does this thing take place, a volcano? There are the mandatory bumps and grinds in the "bring down the temple" sequence, but the real action is all in the orchestra. I'm not sorry I bought this DVD, but when I want a more total production, I'll go back to the San Francisco version.

Rating:
Summary: Unforgetable Night! Unforgetable Performance!
Review: This DVD is a tresure for all opera lovers. First of all, this performance of Samson et Dalila happened on the opening night at the Met 1998 and opening nights at the Met are always special. Second, it was 30 year anniversary of Placido Domingo's cooperation with Metropoliten Opera and with this opening performance he tied (and later surpassed) Enrico Caruzo's record of 17 opening night performances at the Met, which is amazing. At the end of the show, Placido was congratulated by the Metropoliten Opera board and even major of New-York city Rudi Gulliani. Placido, himself, gave a very emotional speech appreciating every person who somehow contributed in his remarkeble career.
This whole scene was very mooving and touching. However, for me this DVD stands out for outstanding, phenomenal performance of Olga Borodina, who is one of nowadays leading mezzo-sopranos in the world. I heard her last yeat at Lyric Opera of Chicago in Samson et Dalila and I was shocked by the beauty and power of her voice. This year I saw her in Aida and, once again, she was absolutely magnificent. She has one of the gorgeous voices you will ever hear in your life. If you get a chance to see her live, you must do it. Hearing Olga Borodina live and from TV screen it is a big difference. All the great opera singers sound so much better live. However, she is still amazing singing-wise and acting-wise on this DVD.
So this is a must have DVD for everyone who loves opera. 5 stars! maybe 6!

Rating:
Summary: HONORING DOMINGO
Review: This DVD of Saint-Saens Samson ET Dalila is more than just a tape of an operatic performance. At the end of the performance that was taped in 1998 Placido Domingo was honored for his 30 years at "the Met" plus for his 17th opening night at that company. The well deserved praises were delivered by various "big wigs" of opera and by the then mayor of New York City, Giulani (SP ?) who embarrassingly mispronounces Domingo's first name in his presentation (he must not be too much of an opera fan because, I feel that anyone that knows anything about opera would know how to pronounce Placido Domingo's name.) Anyway, it was a very moving, well-deserved tribute to a singer that has given so much to the operatic world and has to be one of the hardest working performers in the profession. I, as well as Placido, was moved to tears. Now about the performance.
It is obvious when currently hearing/viewing Domingo that time has slipped by-more girth, some jowls and some difficulty getting up from a semi-recumbent position with Dalila. Vocally, however, time has not, too much taken its toll. Granted he dodges some of the high notes and the ones he sings are approached carefully. Nevertheless, he sing Samson like no body else can singing the role wonderfully and knowingly mainly due to his many years of experience. He still is truly an amazing artist!
By no stretch of the imagination would, (at least in this performance), anyone think of Olga Borodina as a seductress (I think she was pregnant at the time) no more than they would think that she could really dance in the first act; however, vocally she pours out marvelous sounds producing a singular column of sound with no register breaks all the way up to the ferocious, pin them to the wall, high B flat in act two. All that I can say is Brava.
Sergei Leiferkus (really not at home in French opera) does the nasty High Priest very well. Rene Pape as the old Hebrew is truly (once his voice warms up) luxury casting.
The production is one of those "minimum stagings" that I am beginning to like more and more-I'm afraid that I really don't get all of the symbolism (i.e., hand prints on the costumes and wild hair styles) however, I enjoyed it. (I have to agree with a previous reviewer that the set does resemble a volcano.)
James Levine conducts the score knowingly taking it from a mere oratorio to an opera at its most exciting.
In closing, I truly am glad that I have added this well-sung performance of Samson ET Dalila to my collection-it wonderfully pays homage to one of opera's true legends.


Rating:
Summary: Theatrical and Artistic
Review: This S&D is done in a non-traditional setting by one of the designers of Broadway's The Lion King, depicting the Philistines in an abstract/African way, while the Jews are in traditional period garb. This is what great theater is all about. The performance is excellent with great acting & singing, a memorable event worth seeing over & over. Plus an interview with Domingo. I'd have liked to have seen an interview with the stage designers as well. There's little evidence that this was originally an oratorio. This is an outstanding performance.