- Format: NTSC
- Language Italian
- Subtitles: English, German, Italian, French, Spanish
- Region: All Regions
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.78:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: NR (Not Rated) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
- DVD Release Date: 31 May 2011
- Run Time: 142 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B004QQDUZ6
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 31,296 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This production is not new. The MET back in spring 2006 had a first go at this, with roughly the same cast, but with some significant changes, too.
First of all, in the title role, the former bass baritone Simone Alaimo's starry performance that outshone both Norina and Ernesto is not there in this live recording. John del Carlo simply does not own the same degree of vocal clarity and verbal incisivness of Alaimo that is required of the title role.
Of course, too bad that here, in an important reprisal of this opera by the MET, they could no longer hire Juan Diego Florez to sing Ernesto. Last time round, at least in one performance, Florez did not finish the entire show owing to a slight ailment in the form of 'allergy', and the serenade "Com'e gentil" was tackled by his understudy Barry Banks, a very capable coloratura tenor in his own right.
Matthew Palenzani isn't bad as Ernesto; just that he lacked the quality to make the role really 'shine'.
As for Netrebko, I must say that she is a bit over the top in this production as Norina. She has to obtain an outfit that is at least two sizes bigger than the former 2006 suit.
The crux of the matter, however, is that her Norina isn't just sharp and witty - she is outright a shrew: spiteful, even a bit sluttish (considering the all too 'over' duet with Dr. Malatesta). Norina's love for the 'poor' Ernesto does not seem to exist as the opera progresses. Netrebko sang well enough, and would have been better heard than seen for the over the top acting, some thing so rare to find in the case of Netrebko.
Mariusz Kwiecien, like Netrebko, was in the 2006 MET production. Here is a stylish singer with a coloratura technique so secure and nature that is really hard to beat.
In short, the star of the show is Dr. Malatesta.
What do you think of that?
First of all, in the title role, the former bass baritone Simone Alaimo's starry performance that outshone both Norina and Ernesto is not there in this live recording. John del Carlo simply does not own the same degree of vocal clarity and verbal incisivness of Alaimo that is required of the title role.
Of course, too bad that here, in an important reprisal of this opera by the MET, they could no longer hire Juan Diego Florez to sing Ernesto. Last time round, at least in one performance, Florez did not finish the entire show owing to a slight ailment in the form of 'allergy', and the serenade "Com'e gentil" was tackled by his understudy Barry Banks, a very capable coloratura tenor in his own right.
Matthew Palenzani isn't bad as Ernesto; just that he lacked the quality to make the role really 'shine'.
As for Netrebko, I must say that she is a bit over the top in this production as Norina. She has to obtain an outfit that is at least two sizes bigger than the former 2006 suit.
The crux of the matter, however, is that her Norina isn't just sharp and witty - she is outright a shrew: spiteful, even a bit sluttish (considering the all too 'over' duet with Dr. Malatesta). Norina's love for the 'poor' Ernesto does not seem to exist as the opera progresses. Netrebko sang well enough, and would have been better heard than seen for the over the top acting, some thing so rare to find in the case of Netrebko.
Mariusz Kwiecien, like Netrebko, was in the 2006 MET production. Here is a stylish singer with a coloratura technique so secure and nature that is really hard to beat.
In short, the star of the show is Dr. Malatesta.
What do you think of that?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Lets have a look at the artistes first, Del Carlo sings OK but not brilliant, Kweicien is pretty good, I like his range, he is at home in the part and is the pick of the soloists. Polenzali is reasonable, but his voice quality is variable.
Netrebko gets off to a shaky start, most unusual for her but as she warms up she gets up to standard.
The sets, or particularly the Dons house seems unappropriately shabby, as is his costume, it does not match what I think it should be but I am conditioned by the Corbelli/Mei version. This Pasquale looks more like a pauper than a rich old gentleman.
Netrebko as Norina starts off as a pinup girl, flashing cleavage and legs from time to time, no objection but it is not in character.
This Ernesto is not quite the sponger that I expect either, the characters as presented hardly seem to be mutually attracted.
Maybe that I am losing my sense of humour, but I did not find the act 2 humiliation of Pasquale amusing or funny in this interpretation.
Act 3 is still just riding its luck until the final scene in the garden in which I found the set pretty good. The characters all suddenly found their voices and switched their characters to sweetness and light.
To put it bluntly this lacks the subtlety I find in Corbelli and Mei.
There are quite a few other versions which I have not seen or heard so I rest my case.
Netrebko gets off to a shaky start, most unusual for her but as she warms up she gets up to standard.
The sets, or particularly the Dons house seems unappropriately shabby, as is his costume, it does not match what I think it should be but I am conditioned by the Corbelli/Mei version. This Pasquale looks more like a pauper than a rich old gentleman.
Netrebko as Norina starts off as a pinup girl, flashing cleavage and legs from time to time, no objection but it is not in character.
This Ernesto is not quite the sponger that I expect either, the characters as presented hardly seem to be mutually attracted.
Maybe that I am losing my sense of humour, but I did not find the act 2 humiliation of Pasquale amusing or funny in this interpretation.
Act 3 is still just riding its luck until the final scene in the garden in which I found the set pretty good. The characters all suddenly found their voices and switched their characters to sweetness and light.
To put it bluntly this lacks the subtlety I find in Corbelli and Mei.
There are quite a few other versions which I have not seen or heard so I rest my case.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is for the Blu-ray version of Don Pasquale which was performed live at the Met on 13 November 2010. I suppose that it is inevitable that if you had been lucky enough to see this production but with different artists you would be likely to favour that performance over this dvd. However, I suspect that the vast majority of purchasers will be viewing it for the first time with no preconceptions. All I can say is that you are in for a real treat!
My Blu-ray arrived yesterday and in the evening I settled down to watch this Opera through a projector on the big screen. I had the best seats in the house! James Levine is on excellent form conducting the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Both audio and video quality is excellent and there is a modern interactive menu system with picture in picture to move between the various chapters - you will almost certainly want to demand the occasional encore! The Met has such a large stage that it can accommodate very interesting staging arrangements and this performance ably demonstrates this advantage.
I confess to being an Anna Netrebko fan and it will come as no surprise when I say that she is fabulous in the role of Norina. She continues to amaze with an athletic display while at the same time singing apparently effortlessly. OK, she may have put on a few pounds but this is her entitlement and she still looks beautiful and her voice is in fine form. Personally I didn't find her `over the top'. Exuberant - yes, but surely this is her role in this opera. Just sit back and enjoy the fun.
I was also impressed by the all the other artists and especially John del Carlo in the title role and Mariusz Kwiecien as the scheming Doctor Malatesta.
I know that the price of the disc should not be an issue but credit must go to Deutsche Grammophon for producing their Blu-ray discs so cheaply. They are invariably several pounds below the cheapest opera dvd's and in some cases less than half price. Thoroughly recommended!
My Blu-ray arrived yesterday and in the evening I settled down to watch this Opera through a projector on the big screen. I had the best seats in the house! James Levine is on excellent form conducting the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Both audio and video quality is excellent and there is a modern interactive menu system with picture in picture to move between the various chapters - you will almost certainly want to demand the occasional encore! The Met has such a large stage that it can accommodate very interesting staging arrangements and this performance ably demonstrates this advantage.
I confess to being an Anna Netrebko fan and it will come as no surprise when I say that she is fabulous in the role of Norina. She continues to amaze with an athletic display while at the same time singing apparently effortlessly. OK, she may have put on a few pounds but this is her entitlement and she still looks beautiful and her voice is in fine form. Personally I didn't find her `over the top'. Exuberant - yes, but surely this is her role in this opera. Just sit back and enjoy the fun.
I was also impressed by the all the other artists and especially John del Carlo in the title role and Mariusz Kwiecien as the scheming Doctor Malatesta.
I know that the price of the disc should not be an issue but credit must go to Deutsche Grammophon for producing their Blu-ray discs so cheaply. They are invariably several pounds below the cheapest opera dvd's and in some cases less than half price. Thoroughly recommended!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Don Pasquale
Entertainment of this quality in one's own home does not get much better than this Blu-ray recording - if one enjoys opera of course. Read more
Published 6 months ago by GEOFF C
Exellent in any aspekt`s !
Extraordinary cast !Netrebko, Kwiecien, Polenzani, del Carlo-superb singing and acting !Bravi !
Exelent staging-vivid,witty and exact from Otto Schenk ! Read more
Exelent staging-vivid,witty and exact from Otto Schenk ! Read more
Published 9 months ago by Rufina Noor
Ruined by directorial ineptitude
This is sold as a Blu-ray disc for repeated watching but what you actually get is a one-off evening at the Met. Read more
Published 10 months ago by John Chandler
Fine singing, acting and spontaneous comedy.
I am not usually a fan of MET productions but this one with its traditional staging hits all the right spots for me, combined with James Levine underpinning a sprightly... Read more
Published 10 months ago by pointone
amazing netrebko
I saw this at my local movie theater too. It was amazing. Ms. Netrebko, in specially, was superb. The others singers was fantastic too. Buy it in BD.
Published 11 months ago by mauro
A great comic opera with fine performances
This opera has an enjoyably tuneful score. The story takes place in Rome in the passage of a single day and uses the recognisable characters of the commedia dell'arte; Don Pasquale... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Angela
Superb Performance
Enjoyed very much the performance & singing of all actors, specially Anna Netrebko.very good & balance audio. emotion event seeing again the conducting of James Levine. Read more
Published 11 months ago by A. Refael
This is good!
I saw this at my local Cineworld. It is brilliant. Everybody on stage seemed to enjoy themselves, and so did the audience. Read more
Published 12 months ago by djm
Don Pasquale
I was there at the Met. Opera House when they filmed this opera with Anna Netrebko. It's being released at the Met.opera shop on May 7, 2011. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Verdi
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