Cheap Verdi - Ernani / James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera (DVD) (Kirk Browning) Price

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Customer Reviews of Verdi - Ernani / James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera

Early Verdi at its best!
George Bernard Shaw described Ernani as Verdi's most intense opera, and in this rendition, all of the musical and visual elements of the work that so pleased the irascible Shaw come together marvelously. Who better to conduct it than James Levine, today's best interpreter of Verdi, and considered by many to be the heir to Toscanini. Young and still vocally secure, Pavarotti sings with boldness and color, with few of the extra syllables which mar so much of his middle years. Milnes, in the manner of Leonard Warren, is perfect in the role of Carlo and Leona Mitchell, while not quite the Verdian as Leontyne Price, fully realizes her part. Considering that this is a 1983 recording, this DVD shows how well the medium captures both the visual and musical elements of opera in general and Ernani in particular. A standing ovation for such a grand performance of a grand opera! And by the way, for folks who think that Verdi didn't hit his stride until Rigoletto, here is the proof of how truly great his earlier works are.

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GREAT MUSIC, GREAT VOICES, GREAT VIDEO!
Even though it is not much performed nowadays, Ernani has got some of Verdi's finest music. The libretto is quite dreadful, but if you ignore its weaknesses you are most likely to fall for this opera. Since it is very hard to sing, almost as difficult as Trovatore, it demands top class singers. This video brings what is perhaps the best performance ever of this Verdi early masterpiece. The whole cast is just great! Pavarotti is a stunning Ernani and Ruggero Raimondi, perhaps the most beautiful bass voice of our days, sings a Duke that can not be matched. Sherril Milnes, Leona Mitchel and Maestro Levine are superb. If you are an opera lover, you can not miss this one. Buy it now. It is worth every single penny you pay for it.

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pretty close to top notch
what more could anyone ask for? Pavarotti is brilliant as Ernani, no doubt this is one of his best roles. But he stares mostly at the prompter, and remains pretty much glued to this one spot on the stage. It would have been great if he had acted some more. oh well.

Raimondi is one of the best singers I've ever heard - his Act One aria and cabaletta are one of the highlights of this performance. His acting is fine also.

Levine and the orchestra once again prove that they're the best in the U.S.

Mitchell is completely miscast here. this role is not for her. she gasps for breath like a fish out of water. when she does this (quite often), her breasts puff up and down in such a distracting way that ruins her performance. try not to look when this happens.

Milnes has his vocal problems much in evident here, but he still brings down the house, esp. in Act Three during his aria, where he finally hits his stride.

Production, supporting roles, chorus are all very good.

so except for Mitchell, this is highly reccomended. I hope someday modern technology can provide Mirella Freni's Elvira from the La Scala version. that would definately be the cherry on the sundae! buy this for sure, though. this one's as best as they come.