| Puccini - Turandot at the Forbidden City of Beijing / Mehta, Casolla, Larin, Frittoli, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino | 
 enlarge
| List Price: $34.98 (€27.63)
Buy New: $13.75 (€10.86)
You Save: $21.23 (€16.77) (61%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $13.49 (€10.66)
Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 38 reviews)
Sales Rank: 21677
Category: DVD
Actors: Giovanna Casolla, Sergej Larin, Barbara Frittoli, Carlo Colombara, Jose Fardilha
Directors: Ruth Kaech, Hugo Kaech
Publisher: RCA
Studio: RCA
Manufacturer: RCA
Label: RCA
Format: Anamorphic, Classical, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Languages: Italian (Original Language), Chinese (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), Japanese (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Number Of Items: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 2
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 60917
UPC: 743216091720
EAN: 0743216091720
ASIN: B00000IBVC
Release Date: April 13, 1999
Theatrical Release Date: 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Similar Items:
| • | The Turandot Project | | • | Puccini - Turandot / Franco Zeffirelli - Marton, Domingo, Mitchell, Plishka, Cuenod - James Levine, MET (1988) | | • | Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxell | | • | Puccini - La Boheme / Pavarotti, Scotto, Niska, Wixell, Plishka, Levine, Metropolitan Opera | | • | Verdi - Rigoletto / Luciano Pavarotti, Ingvar Wixell, Edita Gruberova, Victoria Vergara, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Riccardo Chailly |
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The first DVD edition of Puccini's last opera (left not quite complete at his death) immediately becomes the best available in any video format. It is likely to keep this status for quite a while, though the music comes across more powerfully in several audio-only editions. The visual challenges of Turandot are formidable, and they are met spectacularly in this production, filmed on location in the Forbidden City, where the story takes place. Turandot is a princess to die for. Dozens of foreign princes have literally lost their heads after seeking her hand in marriage and failing to solve three riddles. Ideally, a Turandot should have the voice of Birgit Nilsson, she should have the looks and acting skills of Teresa Stratas in her prime, and it's nice if she at least appears Chinese. Soprano Giovanna Casolla scores a B-plus on these requirements, and that's about the best we can expect. Among other principals, tenor Sergej Larin sings well, looks right, and doesn't really try to act (probably a wise decision). Soprano Barbara Frittoli is superb and the supporting cast is generally good. But what makes this production unique is the setting; you are there in ancient Peking, with its real buildings, flags, armor and uniforms, costumes, and statues of dragons and other legendary monsters. This is one of the first operas intended for original release on DVD; others were initially issued in more limited formats and have kept their original limitations in the new format. The wider range of options on DVD is significant. Those who will settle for audio-only recordings, which cost about the same and offer much less, should try either of Birgit Nilsson's CD editions (with Bjoerling or Corelli) or Joan Sutherland's. Both of these great divas are, alas, visually inappropriate, offering another argument for this striking visual re-creation. --Joe McLellan.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 33 more reviews...
 Worthy Turandot March 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I wish reviewers would review the product at hand without comparing to other recorded versions. No singer or opera performance is similar and should be reviewed based on it's sole merits alone. Larin is not Corelli, Casolla is not Nilsson and Frittoli is not Moffo. Just think how boring opera would be if every singer and opera performance was exactly the same. As a Chinese-American, I thoroughly enjoyed this lavish performance. From the Chinese perspective, it is a great honor that a magnificent composer such as Puccini would have been enthralled with our culture to write Turandot. To bring Turandot home to Beijing is an honor long overdue. Of course for such an important homecoming, Zhang Yimou, the greatest director in China would be asked to direct and produce the event. In a culture where face (honor) is so important, should it be surprising that the Chinese would spare no expense in recreating such lavish costumes, and scenery, etc.? This was a chance for China to showcase herself and her grand culture. The Chinese government is very selective about whom is allowed to film inside this amazing symbol of imperialism. I only state the above so viewers can better understand why certain scenes like martial arts (wushu - acrobatic style) are included. I can hardly wait for the opening Beijing Olympics ceremony. Also, Frittoli's slave attire may seem too fancy for some reviewers. However, servants of wealthy families were well dressed because they accompanied their masters into public. Now for the reviewer that called this a second rate cast, I disagree. Just because they do not have famous names does not mean they are not great singers. Those who can DO, those who cannot criticize. Larin is a wonderful tenor, but he does not seem to act at all. Casolla has a steely voice just perfect for the role of ice princess. Frittoli is again magnificent. Her voice is warm and golden in tone. She's a fine actress too. Mehta is in fine form directing the Orchestra & Chorus of Maggio Musicale Florentino.
I think Zhang Yimou is a genius and have enjoyed all of his films. The production and background are visually gorgeous. The costumes were unbelievable and I greatly enjoyed having real Chinese in the cast. A very worthy Turandot!
Out-freaking-standing! March 7, 2008
This was AWESOME! Granted after seeing the freak show the Met put on with James Levine Conducting I was "easy to please." However, I think I overcame my bias, objectively rated the piece and logically concluded that it was SUPER AMAZING!! lol Get this and have fun!
 ALDO BOTTION August 6, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am not an opera "buff" but I bought this DVD soley for the purpose of seeing someone I know in the opera..his name is Aldo Bottion and he played Altoum but, not knowing opera, I don't know which character this is..I hope it's not the old man with all that makeup, cause I couldn't even pick out my own mother with all that makeup...Could anyone tell me which one was Aldo Bottion?
B-list cast in stunt production February 23, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Nine years down the road, this production strikes me as neither particularly good nor particularly bad.
In performance quality, it is typical of the sort of thing one sees from second-string companies, such as--alas!--my own local company, the Vancouver opera. The cast--satisfactory enough for that level--is resolutely, steadfastly B-list, with Frittoli perhaps aspiring to B+ status.
Considering that this is as much a circus as it is an opera, concerns about the quality of conducting are largely irrelevant.
In production values, this "Turandot" holds some interest, but primarily as a stunt and little more. It is a production transplanted from the Florence May Festival, a well-regard and respectable source. That being said, I, for one, would bet that everything about it had worked better in Florence than any of it did amid all the foofraw in Peking.
Except for the sheer spectacle of it all, this should not be anyone's first choice for "Turandot" on DVD.
No Chinese Singers?? August 1, 2006
1 out of 8 found this review helpful
I was disappointed to find that all of the singers in this production were European. Surely there are some Chinese opera singers who could have taken part and made it seem more realistic. I agree with those who have said they preferred the Placido Domingo/Eva Marton production. Marton was a much better Turandot than Casolla, who I thought was too old for the role. Frittoli's Liu was beautifully done, but I agree her costume was too elaborate for a slave. Leona Mitchell was a much more believable Liu. However, since this version was not made in China, I didn't expect the singers to be Chinese. I found the dancers in the long white robes puzzling. What were they supposed to represent? The use of a small Chinese woman as the executioner was startling and not particularly effective. I would have preferred the chorus to be hidden, and the crowd to look like the Chinese peasants they were supposed to be. However, on the whole, the music and the singing were beautifully done.
|
|
|
