Search - La Forza del Destino on DVD

Golden voices

Robert G. VanStryland | Denton, TX USA | 09/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since the listing above is not very clear, let me start by telling you that the item I'm reviewing is the Hardy Classics DVD of Verdi's opera "La Forza del Destino." This is a 1958 Italian telecast from the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, starring Renata Tebaldi, Franco Corelli, Ettore Bastianini, Boris Christoff and Renato Capecchi. For knowledgeable opera lovers, the cast listing above will be recommendation enough. To everyone else, let me say that this is some of the greatest singing you're ever likely to hear.The picture is black and white, the sound is monaural and the scenery doesn't look all that great, but you're not going to care. These singers convey the drama with their voices (as well as with their movements and expressions), and their singing makes everything about this production wonderful.Hardy Classics has done a great job of restoring this video; the picture and sound are clear (although there are some unimportant visual flaws). I have seen this performance before, on video tapes that don't look or sound this good.Get this one while you can. Also, check out other Hardy Classics opera DVDs of Otello, Il Trovatore and (especially)Rigoletto. All of them feature performances by important singers who are no longer active and all of them are sufficiently well restored that sound and picture quality are not significant problems."