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Giuseppe Verdi - Nabucco (2005) [DVD9 NTSC] {Deutsche Grammophon}
Video: 4:3 NTSC
Audio: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
Subtitles: Italian(original language), English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese
# Actors: Samuel Ramey, Maria Guleghina, Juan Pons, Wendy White, Gwyn Hughes Jones
# Number of discs: 1
# Rated: NR (Not Rated)
# Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
# DVD Release Date: March 8, 2005
# Run Time: 150 minutes
This Met production of Verdi's "Nabucco" finds that dear old "Metropolitan Institution" at the top of its form delivering a wonderfully exciting operatic production; one that is filled with HUGE sets and brilliant colors. This stage production has some astounding visuals including massive staircases, columns (on a revolving stage) and giant statues (idols) plus at one point half the stage is set on fire. Added to all of the aforesaid there is some wonderful singing from a superlative cast as well as marvelous and heartfelt singing from the chorus. The orchestra, under Levine, (as expected) plays marvelously. Levine keeps the proceedings moving along very well. I was never made aware that Nabucco is rather immature Verdi.
Having followed Samuel Ramey's career from his very early days, I was somewhat saddened, at first, to hear and to see him sounding and looking rather old realizing that indeed time had slipped away. However, once his voice warmed up and he discarded some unflattering costumes, he sounded and looked as if not too much time had gone away delivering his usual sonorous bass tones.
Juan Pons has never been a particular favorite of mine; however his singing of Nabucco is awe inspiring portraying the character believably while delivering a full rich sound. After all, there aren't too many of the heroic Verdian Baritones hanging around opera houses' stage doors these days! So I was very impressed with Juan!
A fearless Maria Guleghina tackles that voice-killer role of Abigaille with much nerve and sings it very well. She displays no trills and not the greatest floritura; however, she lets fly with many astounding high C's at one moment then plummeting into the lower depths the next-brava! I guess we really can't have everything in this role for it is really impossible to sing well. (Callas dropped it early in her zenith later advising Caballe not to even think of singing it)
Gwyn Hoghes-Jones as Ismaele and Wendy White as Fenena are also very good displaying rich full voices.
If you want to see and hear opera at its most exciting do not hesitate to buy this DVD. (By the way, the picture and sound qualities are great!)
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