Search - L' Italiana in Algeri on DVD

The best L'Italiana in Algeri ever recorded on video

Carlos Ivan Grimas Acosta | David, Panama | 11/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I felt so glad and happy the day I knew L'Italiana in Algeri Rossini's opera 1957 version appeared on sale market. In fact I believe that this is the best version of Rossini's comic opera ever recorded on video. Despite of the black and white old technic video this version was recorded in stereo sound with a marvelous stage credits. Spanish mezzosoprano Teresa Berganza is without doubt the best Isabela role and she is excellent as well as vocal and acting talented. Italian singer solists: Sesto Bruscantini, Alvinio Misciano and Mario Petri are unique performers not easy to overcome in modern versions at the present time. All the stage production including the RAI Chorus and Orchestra and extra actors put the great essence and comic taste of a great quality work ever recorded on video. Thanks AMAZON.COM for giving this gorgeous version on DVD to all opera lovers."

PER LEI CHE ADORO

Bartolome Mesa Gil | Malaga, SPAIN | 08/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First the good news. What a wonderful performance of one of the loveliest Rossini operas! Taped for TV with very primitive means on July 10, 1957, it preserves glorious singing by all four principals. Mario Petri is a powerful and atractive Mustafà, with enough coloratura to do justice to the role. Sesto Bruscantini is at his best and that's a lot. i didn't know Alvinio Misciano, but he had a beautiful lyric tenor voice, an easy top and a most attractive youthful presence.But the great star and the main reason to get this performance is the Isabella of Teresa Berganza. To my mind, no one -not even the superb Marilyn Horne- can touch the Spanish mezzo in this role. At the start of her long and illustrious career, her voice is fresh and with a perfect coloratura technique (she could here give some lessons to a hyped superdiva of today), sensual and coquettish, but also determined and powerful, with no trace of self-indulgent exaggeration. With a smile that could melt one hundred Mustafàs, this is the Isabella of Rossini's dreams.

The bad news? This is a very poor RAI production -even for that time-, with silly sets and quite ridiculous stage movements, a sort of not intended unfunny parody of a bad and provincial performance of a Rossini opera. The sound, which is very good, was recorded beforehand (it has been available on CD for some years now) and the performers just mouth here their lines, with variable credibility. So, should one spend the extra money to get the visuals or just get the CDs? I am glad that I got the DVD as well, because of Berganza. This is a beautiful record of a fine artist performing on her prime and we're lucky that it was taped at all. I hope I helped you decide if you should buy it too."