Search - Verdi - La Forza del Destino on DVD

DON'T FEAR THE UNKNOWN, THIS IS THE BEST PERFORMANCE ON DVD,

Douglas E. Braga | SÃO PAULO, SÃO PAULO Brazil | 01/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME, THIS VERSION IS THE BEST OF THIS OPERA EXISTENT AND AVAILABLE ON DVD - ALL THE VOICES ARE VERDIAN, AND THE CAST IS TOTALLY WELL-BALANCED. THE SOPRANO SUSANNA BRANCHINI WHO PLAYS LEONORA HAS THE MOST SUITABLE VOICE FOR THE ROLE,WITH TOTAL CONTROL OF HER TECHNIQUE, THE TENOR RENZO ZULIAN PLAYS DON ALVARO - THE COLOUR OF HIS VOICE IS FULL AND VERY BEAUTIFUL, HE PLAYS HIS PART WITH A LOT OF DIGNITY ON THE VOCAL POINT OF VIEW. THE BARITONE MARCO DI FELICE PLAYS DON CARLO (LEONORA'S BROTHER), HE HAS THE KIND OF VOICE OF ETTORE BASTIANINI - SO, A DRAMATIC VERDIAN BARITONE WITH VERY BEAUTIFUL TIMBRE. PAOLO BATTAGLIA PLAYS THE PADRE GUARDIANO - MAN! WHAT A GREAT VOICE! THE MEZZO SOPRANO TIZIANA CARRARO PLAYS PREZIOSILLA - SHE'S A VERY COMPETENT SINGER - BESIDES, HERE I WANT TO MAKE A SPECIAL MENTION TO HER "BATAKLAN" IN THE THIRD ACT, WHERE SHE AND THE CHOIR SING THAT VERY STIMULATING PIECE "A CAPPELLA". THE CONDUCTOR LUKAS KARYTINOS MAKES A GREAT JOB ON THE DIRECTION OF THE ORCHESTRA FILARMONIA VENETA "G.F. MALIPIERO". THAT BEING SO, YOU DON'T NEED TO FEAR THE UNKNOWN, IN THIS CASE. THIS IS FOR, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS DVD."

THIS PRODUCTION NEEDS A LOT OF PRAYERS

Charles D. novak | minneapolis, minnesota USA | 04/27/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Take it from someone whose been going to operas for 56 years - save your money on this DVD. FORZA was the first opera I was in at the old Metropolitan Opera House. I was in the first act when Leonora's father accidently gets shot. When he fell to the floor, I was there to prop him up so he could curse his daughter with his dying breath. Since that time I've probably probably seen a dozen performances of this opera and appeared in around forty productions if you count dress rehearsals. I know what FORZA should sound like and this performance dosn't come close. There is absolutely no sense of urgency or danger which inspires great singing. Who are these vocalists in this cast? Are they on their way up or down? Even the orchestra is "chamber size" and never gets inspired by Verdi's thrilling music. I actually watched the DVD twice in three days and it simply never worked for me."

Excellent production with no cuts

J. Camhi | 03/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm in agreement with Douglas E. Braga. This is a fantastic production. I bought it to go along with the two other excellent productions I own. I have the 1958 production and the 1998 performance of the 1862 production. I wanted a traditional performance of the standard 1869 version that had no cuts.

I'm no expert, but the orchestra did not seem like a chamber orchestra, and to me they sounded like a full orchestra. I loved the voices of Renzo Zulian and Paolo Battaglia. Susanna Branchini not only has an great voice, but she is also beautiful. Marco Di Felice also has an excellent voice. In fact, everyone in this production sings wonderfully. In addition, there doesn't seem to be any cuts."