Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic performance from Salzburg 1954, 11 Nov 2001
When I saw that this DVD was comming out on the catalogue page on Deutsche Grammophon, and seeing the cast, I was determined to get it. When I finally got it, I was in awe through the whole performance. From the moment I saw Furtwängler come up to the podium to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra, I was convinced this was a real to event to treasure.After the overture, that was brilliantly played, we got to the Otto Edelmann as Leporello in his also brilliant performance. Then came Cesare Siepi in with Elisabeth Grümmer as Don Giovanni and Donna Anna. Both of them powerful. Siepi with his dark seductive and at the same time menacing tone and Grümmer with her determined and noble reading. Anton Dermota then enters. His lyrical voice, so tender and loving performance with his scenes with Grümmer. Lisa Della Casa as Donna Elvira is another legendary performer, already famous for her Elvira interpretation. She plays Elvira as a woman out for revenge on the Don, but is still in love in him. Erna Berger and Walter Berry, who play Zerlina and Masetto are also extremely good as the yound couple. Berger may be too old for Zerlina, but she sounds so young and innocent, and Berry is always suspicous and vendictive towards his rival, Don Giovanni. And the scenes with Zerlina and Masetto are so tender. The colors and sound are vibrant and clear. It is a PCM Mono sound and 4:3 picture. This is a performance that was only played for the camera at the end the Salzburg Festival with the stage turned into a film studio. It is a real treat to witness a performance conducted by the the legendary conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Total satisfaction, 15 April 2008
A treat for eye and ear,this pioneer-capturing on film of Furtwangler's Salzburg Festival Don Giovanni delights in every way. The acting, not just the singing, is a marvel: I would especially mention Cesare Siepi as the Don and Elisabeth Grummer as Donna Anna. My favourite voice is that of Lisa Della Casa, who took the place of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and to my ear is preferable. The costumes and colour harmonies are a fine sensual companion to the music, the staging is faultless and Furtwangler, though growing deaf, still commands a dramatic power and musicality that no other conductor has equalled or surpassed. I can't believe there is a more satisfying film of this great opera.
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9 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
lacks only one thing, 17 Mar 2002
By A Customer
This is, as other reviews suggest, a remarkable performance. As someone who has used it for academic purposes, however, I must comment that it lacks a libretto, either on the DVD or on paper included in the package. There are, of course, subtitles but this does not allow one to follow the text in two languages at once. In comparison, a Glyndbourne DVD I have used of "The Marriage of Figaro" included a libretto in word format on the DVD. I do not think that this can be a very difficult thing to do. You certainly expect to get a libretto with a good CD of the opera. These little things do matter. My advice is, if you need one, order a libretto at the same time as you order this DVD.
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