Search - Zandonai - Francesca Da Rimini (remastered) on DVD

The stars were in perfect alignment...

B. Cathey | Wendell, NC United States | 05/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw--and absorbed---Francesca da Rimini when the Met offered it, and like almost everyone else, I was swept away. Oh, yes, Zandonai is not Puccini, not Mascagni, but there is just something "special" about Francesca da Rimini that has always captivated me (well, I also like very much Spontini, Montemezzi, Auber, R.Strauss, and Mussorgsky). With the right cast and staging it DOES work...and the Met production, with Domingo, Scotto, and MacNeill, all in stellar voice, and those magnificent sets, well, it was indeed an "event" of the first order. And this DVD preserves it all.

I must confess that I really adore all the twists and exotic turns musically, as well. Ovderheated? Oh, yes, most definitely. Not something you want to hear or see everyday...but, wow, yes, most assuredly from time to time. The love duet at the end of Act III and the final feverish scene of Paolo and Francesca are simply spectacular, passion-filled, volcanic eruptions....I don't fight them, rather I just enjoy them.

Magda Olivero, Leyla Gencer, and Raina Kaibavanska sang Francesca, and I enjoy each of their interpretations, but this Met production remains unique and special.

Let yourself go, let the music (as overblown as it may seem, at times) and the drama envelope you. Have a glass of wine with it all, and simply enjoy it. Highly recommended."

A landmark in opera

Dino Starcevic Rivera | San José, Costa Rica | 03/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Superb, amazing, exotic, erotic. As Gabrielle D'Annunzio's poetry, such it is this Metropolitan Opera production of Francesca da Rimini. A classic on recorded operas, we have to thank the Met for registered this magnificent production.
If the sum of talents weren't enough, there is Renata Scotto. As the critic of the moment (1984) remarked, she found HER character. I haven`t found a better Scotto on video, no matter how much I love her Giorgetta. Here, as Francesca, she reinvented herself and reach the stars. She MUST be seen.
Do not miss this one."

Terrific production of a more controversial score

Abel | Hong Kong | 06/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Zandonai's only opera that we know of.
The piece is not romantic nor modern. But it does smacks something like Shostakovitch's 'Lady Macbeth of M'tsensk'.
True that there is nothing lyrical in it - not even the dancing and singing, the supposed entertainments for Francesca.
MET managed to present a most sumptuous set for the score, and the cast simply could not be bettered.
The three male protagonists - 'the lame', 'the blind', and 'the handsome', all are utterly convincingly portrayed by MacNeil, Lewis and Domingo.
And the title role of Francesca of Scotto who is neither young nor beautiful. But who cares? Scotto manages to evince an aura of beauty and youthfulness throughout the entire performance. And this is some thing that smacks true mastery and complete artistry.
A very enjoyable performance of an otherwise difficult to digest score, and rather outlandish opera.
I for one am not a Domingo fan, but have to admit that Placido Domingo is in his absolute best here, vocally as well as visually.
This DVD is for every serious opera lover."