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Amazon.co.uk Review
In this high-definition film of Bellini’s historical bel-canto drama, I Puritani, tenor superstar Juan Diego Flórez is partnered by new young Georgian soprano Nino Machaidze, in her first appearance on Decca DVD. Joining them in a striking new staging by Pier’Alli at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna is celebrated bass baritone, Ildebrando D’Arcangelo. The context is England’s Civil War between the Roundheads (the 'Parliamentarians' or 'Puritans' of the title) and the Cavaliers (Royalists). A love triangle between Arturo (a Puritan), Riccardo (a Royalist) and the beautiful Elvira results in a drama of escapes, disguises and captures, during which Elvira loses her reason, before a final pardon restores her senses and unites her with her beloved Arturo. This new production benefits from the use of a new critical addition, with significant added material i.e. all the music that Bellini wrote for the opera. It makes this release, apart from the excellent cast, even more interesting for the opera lover.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Certainly an opera with wonderful music by Bellini, but the scant storyline hardly contains enough dramatic tension to keep one's attention. The production echoes this - very static with a good sounding chorus lined up in varying groups and shapes, all doing the same motions. Hardly a good backdrop for the supposedly emotional upheavals in the lives of the protagonists. You do not feel for them. But the musical rendition ranges from exciting to adequate. Florez is musically right on top, but the voice is a little thin for such an heroic figure. Machaidze is a treat - innocent looking but the vocal abilities are there when needed. It should be interesting to watch this young soprano grow. D'Arcangelo has a strong voice that fits the part. The two basses are wanting on the low-low notes and can't sustain the sound. Well, it is an opera of which few DVDs are available, so until the perfect version comes along, this will do fine.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Puritans of the title is very apt. Austere and serious as this opera must be. The only person to have any gaitey is the heroine Elvira and that is short lived before turn of events send her crazy. I am a great fan of Florez and just love to hear him do the great Bel Canto tenor roles but this production made him very inanimate which is cramping his acting abilities. He needs to very active in a part for his charisma to shine forth in his singing. Never the less, the voice was as fabulous as ever. It seems as if the director only wanted animation from Elvira. A sad mistake I think making the whole opera revolve around her missing many other key moments.Ildebrando D'Arcangelo is far to young and dashing to play the part of Elviras uncle even with strong make up and the voice is far to warm also. A bass baritone with a more mature and rounded voice would have seemed more feesible. All the cast were musically good and the orchestra played sweetly and passionately at all the right moments. I quite liked the simple stone walled fortification sets and the costumes were Stuart/puritan enough to give creedence but I didnt like the silly hats at all. What a dreadful mistake by the costumer ruining an other wise sensible attire. The soldiers in berets looking like SAS cast offs...Stupid.A few Guy Fawkes buckled hats or the odd Cavalers hat with some ostrich plumes would not have cost any more and would not have looked so ridiculous
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am not an opera expert, and had only recently been made aware of the existence of the I Puritani DVD,which I received for Christmas.
The plot,very simplistically,is: Boy seemingly jilts girl and runs off with Another. Girl goes mad, her folks want revenge.Boy, still on the run, meets girl again and explains misunderstanding. Her folks still want boy's blood. Last minute reprieve, all is forgiven, boy gets girl. The End.
I enjoyed the music and the performances.However, the gloomy dark blue lighting and matching gun metal costumes gave the whole opera, lasting almost three hours, an unremitting, leaden feel. There was very little on stage to suggest a change of scene, so really, the only advantage of watching the DVD, as opposed to listening to a CD, was to find out who was singing what.
The plot,very simplistically,is: Boy seemingly jilts girl and runs off with Another. Girl goes mad, her folks want revenge.Boy, still on the run, meets girl again and explains misunderstanding. Her folks still want boy's blood. Last minute reprieve, all is forgiven, boy gets girl. The End.
I enjoyed the music and the performances.However, the gloomy dark blue lighting and matching gun metal costumes gave the whole opera, lasting almost three hours, an unremitting, leaden feel. There was very little on stage to suggest a change of scene, so really, the only advantage of watching the DVD, as opposed to listening to a CD, was to find out who was singing what.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Opera at its Best
This is opera at its best. I just sat there allowing the singing to envelop me. I know it's said that there's very little storyline; but, with music such as this so well performed... Read more
Published 1 month ago by H. A. Weedon
Excellent musicality. A pity about the staging.
If you can get over the rather anti-climaxical ending of the plot and the gloomy, static staging, there is much to enjoy here musically. Read more
Published 14 months ago by JM Olmesdahl
Bellini's I Puritani
Excellent singing from Diego Florez and Machaidze. He effortless match all her high notes!! Thrilling singing. Set a bit stark but very effective. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Louis
bellinis i puritani
I think Florez and miss Machaidze sang beautifully.I enjoyed the music thoroughly which was so much better than a previous album I
bought of the same opera sung by different... Read more
bought of the same opera sung by different... Read more
Published 15 months ago by susanna maria ritter
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