- Actors: Renee Fleming, Elizabeth Futral, Rodney Gilfry, Anthony Dean Giffey, San Francisco Opera Orchestra
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Subtitles: German, French
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.77:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: Exempt
- Studio: ARTHAUS
- DVD Release Date: 28 Feb 2001
- Run Time: 167 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005BAIC
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 34,855 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details |
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
André Previn's first opera, A Streetcar Named Desire, is an intelligent adaptation of Tennessee Williams' play, written to be performed by two very strong principals. Renée Fleming's performance as Blanche Dubois is one of the best things she has done, full of a dangerous bravado and a vulnerability that wins us despite our irritation. The role is one which gives her voice ample opportunity both for extended displays of controlled, passionate singing and for those moments when singing by itself is enough and the voice has to break off in sorrow or madness. Rodney Gilfrey as Stanley Kowalski is equally fine--his voice has the right dangerous energy. In the important subsidiary roles of Stella and Mitch, Elizabeth Futral and Anthony Dean Griffey are also remarkable. Futral in particular gives a total performance in which we forget to make a distinction between her acting and her singing. The opera itself is, as you would expect, one of the most accessible new scores to arrive on the opera stage for some years, drawing heavily on the legacy of jazz and with that nervous musical intensity we associate with the play. Previn conducts the San Francisco Opera Orchestra effectively. A complete CD recording with the same cast is also available.
On the DVD: The DVD comes with menus in English, French, German and Spanish and sub-titles in French and German. It is presented in 4:3 ratio and with PCM stereo sound. The booklet gives a moderately interesting account of the opera's genesis. --Roz Kaveney
Special Features
16:9 Wide Screen
Dutch\French\Spanish
English
Dutch\French
Dutch\French\Spanish
English
Dutch\French
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great new modern opera from Andre Previn,
By
This review is from: Previn: A Streetcar Named Desire [DVD] (DVD)
This setting of Tennessee William’s American classic play has been widely acclaimed as a great example of an approachable modern opera, one of the few recently written that could attract a wide audience.Previn has set a modified version of the play, and the musical approach is one of sung dialogue. Most of the time this works very well, but on occasions with everyday expressions like “who’s there” is can seem a little strange. Also setting dialogue in this way slows down the action focussing attention on the music. Within an excellent stage set the singing and acting are superb. Renee Fleming creates a real person out of Blanche Dubois that attracts sympathy and understanding despite her unsavoury past, drink problem and frail grasp on reality. Elizabeth Futral is excellent as the younger sister Stella both in relating to Blanche and to her truculent macho husband Stanley (Gilfry). Mitch (Griffey) the rather simple man Blanche attempts to attract is an effective foil. The abiding memory of this performance is Fleming’s complex portrayal of Blanche, and Futral as her sister Stella. Sound and photography are good, it is sung in English but sub titles would have been a help as inevitably words are not always clear in opera. For those like myself who are not familiar with “Streetcar” a copy of the play is helpful. If you like the play or you like opera rent this one.
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rennee Flemings sensuous blanche,
By A Customer
This review is from: Previn: A Streetcar Named Desire [DVD] (DVD)
For an opera to attempt to recover the already tortured and passionate account of this vulnerable character of Blanche Du bois is by itself a marvel.But Andre Previn and Rennee Fleming have actually achieved "magic" and produced a symbiosis of drama and music. Experience these powerful and tragic characters in a truly FOUR dimensional setting.This is an all round good value set in excellent sound and performance,I urge you to buy it!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
