Search - Puccini - Turandot / Gergiev, Schnaut, Tear, Vienna State Opera on DVD

OMG---Dieter strikes again!

Fair and balanced critic | 04/09/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Just watched this DVD- fortunately borrowed from my local library free-of-charge.
Love Turandot.
Hated this performance.
Only thing which would have made it worse: All black costumes upon a bare black stage with a total-black background.
And the singers are not that good either.
Dieter strikes again!!!!"

Berio ending stinks

Erwin K. Krause | TX USA | 12/13/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Many people criticize Alfano's ending with which we are familiar, usually the Toscanini-shortened version. I say to them, "Shut up.!" After hearing the Alfano-Toscanini version dozens of times, the full Alfano a few times, and now the Berio,I think Toscanini got it right with the short Alfano. Berio added nothing pleasant, still used Puccini themes at times,and ended with a whimper. The Salzburg production suffers from bad singing, acting, and scenery. During "Signore Ascolte" and Non Piangere, Liu," Burchuladze looks as if he is going to cry, "How did I get into this mess?""

Puccini meets the Borg and Edward Scissorhands!!!

P. Sutherland | Berea, Ohio, USA | 11/21/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"What a spectacle this production is! Fortunately, I had read the previous reviews and was prepared for the shock of a part-man, part-machine cast and chorus. David Pountney must be a Star Trek (or Tim Burton) fan to have staged a Puccini opera with a Borg-like society. Strangely, this didn't bother me much. (But, don't EVER do this to Rossini!!!)

This really was a colorful spectacle! The curtain opens to three levels of choristers decked out in masks, machine parts, etc., who line the entire stage. Everyone moves like robots.

All this was quite distracting for the crucial performances of Ping, Pong and Pang, whose singing seemed secondary (and second rate) to the costumes and jerky choreography. The only humanoids are Liu, Timur and Calaf. Christina Gallardo-Domas who played Liu is the only singer I'd give more than three stars. She was probably the only character in this whole production that anyone could relate to. The role of the blind father, Timur, played by Paata Burchuladze impressed me only when he mourned Liu's death. That was the emotional high point for me. Calaf left me completely cold; even the singing of Nessum dorma was a dud. Gabriele Schnaut is no Eva Marton; her singing did not appeal to me at all. But, I've got to hand some acting stars to her for playing so well to the awful tenor!

At the end of this production, the choristers shed their machine parts and masks (but not the black and white mouth makeup) and appeared on stage in dreary grayish clothes, everyone paired in a closing embrace, along with Turnadot and Calaf. Love prevailed.

I think this is worth watching once just for the spectacle and the alternate ending. The production budget for this must have been enormous! But, if I watch Turnadot again, it will definitely be the one with Eva Marton and Placido Domingo."

Surely, the ugliest Turnadot ever produced

D. J. Ballington | Reidsville, NC USA | 10/17/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Turandot is my favorite opera and I've seen five versions--this one is so ugly, it is painful to watch. I purchased this DVD for the Berio ending, but I won't keep it in my collection. The Devo-inspired sets and costumes are ludicrous and the cast abominable. A dreadful experience!"