Search - George London - A Tribute on DVD

Best compilation

Mr. Daniel Zehnacker | 10/10/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Leonie Rysanek a marqué l'opéra de ses interprétations hyper-passionnées. Beaucoup moins célèbre que Callas en France ou en Italie, elle rayonna surtout en Allemagne et en Amérique. Vraie "bête de scène" elle sut adapter sa voix à sa carrière et règner pendant un demi-siècle dans le coeur des lyricomanes. C'est avec George London qu'elle enregistra une fameux "Fliegende Holländer" qui reste une référence dans le domaine wagnérien. Ce DVD est donc indispensable pour tous ceux qui ont connu, ou qui veulent connaître cette époque bénie..."

Superb Singing!

Mr John Haueisen | WORTHINGTON, OHIO United States | 06/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of those "All-Star Game" concerts presented as a salute to bass-baritone George London.

It presents five excerpts or vignettes of great performances by London. The two that are most striking are a duet with Anna Moffo in Mozart's "La ci darem la mano" from Don Giovanni, and a stunning Englsh version of the final scene from Boris Godunov.

There is a veritable planetarium of stars on hand for the tribute, and many of their performances bring down the house. All were good to excellent, the best being:

Edita Gruberova singing "Les oiseaux dans la charmille" You could use this short piece by itself to show friends what truly great singing and voice control is all about. Gruberova can sing with the best ever!

Lucia Popp and Sona Ghazarian sing a duet from Arabella, and it shows Richard Strauss at his best--showing off beautiful soprano voices.

The final number is from Die Walkure, with James King, and Leonie Rysanek singing Siegmund and Sieglinde. You can feel the electricity and the connection between these two. Though it is a concert, uncostumed performance, they are so "real" and involved that you feel you've just experienced one of the best images of Die Walkure.

Great performance for showing off great singers to your friends.
(I'd have given it 5 stars, but the picture quality was not as crisp as I'd have liked--perhaps the technology of the 80s. Still glad I bought it--the singing is superb!)"