Cheap Saint-Saens - Samson et Dalila / Rudel, Domingo, Verrett, San Francisco Opera (DVD) (Kirk Browning) Price

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Customer Reviews of Saint-Saens - Samson et Dalila / Rudel, Domingo, Verrett, San Francisco Opera

Sanson, Dalila... y nada mas
Es una lastima que teniendo a PLACIDO DOMINGO, sin duda el maximo interprete del papel de Samsom, que aqui vuelve a ofrecer una interpretacion sobresaliente del personaje, con una leccion de canto y actuacion magistral, y a SHIRLEY VERRET, una Dalila seductora de voz bella y sugerente, que cuaja tambien una gran actuacion, se hayan descuidado todos los demas detalles. Desde unos secundarios que estan entre la suficiencia discreta y la deficiencia hasta un coro flojo, pasando por una produccion anticuada, fea y aburrida, y por una poco inspirada direccion musical de JULIUS RUDEL.
Es una lastima que lo que pudo ser una noche magica se quede en eso: en un gran Sanson y una gran Dalila, pero falta todo lo demas

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Excellent cast & production
I've loved this opera for many years and purchased this on VHS and laser disc. I agree with the other reviewer as to the cast being superb but the chorus and conducting under par and perhaps because it was broadcast on PBS. Those were the days when you could see an opera on PBS! Domingo and Verrett are magnificent and since there aren't alot of productions to choose from, this is certainly worth the price to add to your collection.

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BRAVA! - BRAVO! - BUT NO BRAVI!
This production (one of the only - if not the only available on VHS at the present) would warrant five stars considering Domingo and Verrett's performances alone.

However, there are times in this performance when the SF Opera Chorus' performance is sloppy....I think mostly due to Maestro Rudel's EXTREMELY fast tempi (particularly in Act 1) which defy musical common sense and at times actually destroy the beauty of Saint Saens' gorgeous choral writing.

One can only wonder - since this production was filmed for "Great Performances" in 1981 - if the maestro was under pressure from the PBS network to bring the length of the show in at under 120 minutes. There are also several short "cuts" in the chorus parts to make Act 3 shorter...which is disturbing if you know the show by heart.

The tempi "settle down" in Act 2 allowing Shirley Verrett to shine. BRAVA!

Domingo is powerful throughout and is especially Brilliant in the beginning of Act 3 - the scene at the millstone. Add this video to your collection for this 8 minutes sequence alone! BRAVO!

I would love to see this released in a letterbox "widescreen" version so you could see more of the beautiful sets, costumes and the stunning SIZE of this show....rather than the constant camera framing of the principals. Still, the sound is good quality and picture is clear in this presentation.

1981 seems like a long time ago. While the performances by the principals is fantastic, other artistic considerations leave something to be desired from this production. San Fransisco Opera is such a fantastic opera house today with such a fine chorus that I can't help but feel that a new production of one of my favorite operas -available on VHS/DVD - is overdue.