Search - Jose Cura - A Passion for Verdi on DVD

A Leap of Faith

Frank Ryan | 04/03/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Bought this as a leap of faith. I have enjoyed previous Cura recordings. Don't know what the folks at Kultur were thinking. The DVD cover has no list of songs for the production. There is no libretto inside. Worse, the performance lacks subtitles except for one dialog, a reading from Don Alvero. Having said that Jose' Cura's performance is quite satisfying. He is accompanied by Daniela Dessi, who is at times distracting with her facial expressions, but also sings quite well. Cura conducts the orchestra in several of the overtures. It adds nothing to the performance. For the record the DVD includes overtures to Nabucco, Les Vespres Sicilennes, Don Carlo and La Forza Del Destino. There are two arias from Il Corsaro, one from Ernani, one from Il Torvatore and Aida. "Lo vengo a domandar" and "Tu che le vanita" are included from Don Carlo. The disc concludes with a selection from La Forza del Destino and "Gi nella notte densa" from Otello."

Simply Beautiful

Frank Ryan | 02/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jose Cura is the discovery of the century. I have never heard such a voice in my whole life. It is like if it would come from heaven and if God was conducting every single note he performed in that marvelous recital. Jose Cura has also a look to be any leading man in any opera, from Carmen to Madama Butterfly. Je m'incline bien bas, Monsieur Cura, devant la performance que vous venez de donner avec brio. Et ce, en plus de diriger l'orchestre dans l'Ouverture de Nabucco avec un savoir-faire qui nous en donne des frissons. Chapeau!"