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Rossini's comic opera of medieval lust and chastity, recorded at Glyndebourne in the 1997 season. Jérome Savary of the Theatre Nationale de Chaillot in Paris directs his UK opera debut in this production with Andrew Davis conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra. While the Count of Formoutiers is away in the crusades, his sister Adèle is pursued by the libidinous Comte Ory. Ory attempts to gain access to Adèle disguised first as a hermit, then as a nun, but his plans are foiled by his page Isolier, who has also fallen in love with Adèle.
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Comte Ory
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Rossini composed the opéra comique Le Comte Ory in 1828 for the Opera of Paris. Eugène Scribe and Charles-Gaspard Delestre-Poirson wrote the French libretto. Part of the music Rossini borrowed from his opera Il viaggio a Reims. In fact, only one of the scenes from Act One is from completely newly composed music - all the rest is either adapted, or simply put to new words.
The new DVD is from a 1997 production of the Glyndebourn Festival. This is absolutely a charming production, a joy to look at visually. The first act settings looks like drawings taken from some children books. The costumes are colorful and beautiful. The second act happens in a large room in countess Adele house. Well designed, and the rain going on the other side of the widow is so realistic. The entire cast act impressively and there is much humor and fun with many brilliant ideas in the director work. Andrew Davis is conducting The London Philharmonic and everything moves well with energy and drive. The music is absolutely charming and bubbles like champagne.
As for the singers: most impressive of all is the French soprano Annick Massis. This lady is AMAZING!!! : A beautiful soprano, not even a pinch of shrillness, excellent technique and brilliant coloratura. In the first act, she finishes her aria with a long sustained note and then faints. I almost fainted too... The other women in the cast are excellent too. Isolier is sung by mezzo-soprano Diana Montague. She is a well-known singer from numerous recordings, and she is charming both in singing and acting. So is the other mezzo, Jane Shaulis as the countess companion Ragonde.
The leading role is sung by the Belgian tenor Marc Laho. He has a sweet and flexible, if not a very large voice, but it is totally appropriate for this not especially dramatic role.
... Read more ›11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It is at least 20 years ago that I first saw this opera on French tv and since then never ever heard of it again. Apparently it is not very well known, which is a pity because the music is marvelous and I think that some parts are something like a challenge for the singers. What a joy to see that it existed, finally, on DVD. I did not regret this purchase, it is worth every cent. Everything is perfect, from the stage scenery to the really excellent singers. I can only recommend this opera to every opera fan. It is pure joy to watch this DVD.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By I. Zaneres
Format:DVD
The obvious star of this show is Marc Laho, his fine tenor with beautiful high Cs timed and balanced to the nth degree realy make this a gem. The director and his sets and costumes is the next star, they are appropriate and enhance the comedy.
The ladies voices may not be quite as good as the new Met production, but in this scenario they are quite adequate. The Governor Julien Robbins is very good, as is Ludovic Tezier as Raimbaud. This is one of tye favourites in my collection, and high praise! One of my non operatic friends thinks it amusingly brilliant. Anticipate the thunderstorm, look forward to the banquet, just wait for the bedroom and the returning crusaders. I think I will watch it again tonight.
The ladies voices may not be quite as good as the new Met production, but in this scenario they are quite adequate. The Governor Julien Robbins is very good, as is Ludovic Tezier as Raimbaud. This is one of tye favourites in my collection, and high praise! One of my non operatic friends thinks it amusingly brilliant. Anticipate the thunderstorm, look forward to the banquet, just wait for the bedroom and the returning crusaders. I think I will watch it again tonight.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Despite (or perhaps because of) being an old Glyndebourne live performance, it is still splendid fun. It might have earned 5 Stars had it not been for just the one badly blemished note from the tenor early in Act 1, but the spontaneity of a live performance makes it a perfectly acceptable trade off. (Can't lay my hands on my copy but thought it was NOT a Region 1 DVD.) PS. The music was recycled, of course, in Il Viaggio a Reims, Rossini never being one to waste a good tune.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By R. Hughes
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I fully support the views expressed by other reviewers who gave this DVD 4 or 5 stars. This opera is great fun and the singing and stage presence of the cast is first class. I particularly enjoyed hearing Annick Massis as Adele. I thoroughly recommend this performance to those who Opera.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By H. A. Weedon
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is yet another firstrate Glyndebourne production. Fortunately, Rossini's music more than makes up for the silliness of the plot. He was supposed to have said: 'Give me a laundry list and I will set it to music.' Fortunately, the plot is saved by having a certain Pythonesque quality, which does, however, fall short of true Pythonesqueness. One can only imagine what might have been had Rossini and the Monty Python team been contemporaries. Rossini would have realsied that Pythonesqueness saves the silly from being silly. Anyway, this is a great laundry list and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Some reviewers make learned comments about the voice quality and sound quality of discs. I just put the discs in and play them and everything always sounds all right to me. The same goes for this recording and I thought everyone gave a great performance. I must say I'm not very keen on trouser roles. You know its a woman and the whole thing gets very silly with her pretending to be a young man. I expect this kind of thing is done in operas to try and include as many kinds of voice as possible. However, when you consider that even fifteen and sixteen year old male youths speak with a man's voice, it does sound very silly having someone singing in a woman's mezzo-soprano voice whilst pretending to be a man.
The scenery is very well done in this production and I liked the two occasions when a 'horse' came onto the stage. It was a very real looking horse with a knight in the saddle. Anyone, I thoroughly recommend anyone to buy this disc and indulge in a thoroughly Pythonesque romp while watching and listening to it.
Some reviewers make learned comments about the voice quality and sound quality of discs. I just put the discs in and play them and everything always sounds all right to me. The same goes for this recording and I thought everyone gave a great performance. I must say I'm not very keen on trouser roles. You know its a woman and the whole thing gets very silly with her pretending to be a young man. I expect this kind of thing is done in operas to try and include as many kinds of voice as possible. However, when you consider that even fifteen and sixteen year old male youths speak with a man's voice, it does sound very silly having someone singing in a woman's mezzo-soprano voice whilst pretending to be a man.
The scenery is very well done in this production and I liked the two occasions when a 'horse' came onto the stage. It was a very real looking horse with a knight in the saddle. Anyone, I thoroughly recommend anyone to buy this disc and indulge in a thoroughly Pythonesque romp while watching and listening to it.
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