Opera collection, DVD vs CD percentage

[Elgarian]

I was concerned that the overall lighting for Cadmus would be too dim/dark since they were trying to replicate real conditions under which Lully and the Sun King would view these works using candles/reflectors etc..........is the lighting adequate?

I should have mentioned this. The lighting is not merely adequate; it's magical. It makes a crucial contribution to the atmosphere, it creates a deliciously warm glow that irradiates the setting and the characters exquisitely, and at no stage do I ever think it's too dim. The youtubes are a bit misleading in that respect. Fear not; it's not even slightly a problem.

Brief thanks to T-C and Brunnhilde Forever - I'm in a rush and will thank you properly later.

[Elgarian]

Brief thanks to T-C and Brunnhilde Forever - I'm in a rush and will thank you properly later.

Continuing here my thanks for these suggestions: I can find some of them on youtube, and have been watching bits of those. I have to be careful here, because I know I can be significantly misled when seeing just a short fragment, in poor quality (watching Cadmus, for instance, turned out to be much more rewarding experience than the bits on youtube had suggested). But so far (I haven't finished yet), I've not seen anything that would make me part with my money; I'm not saying they aren't very fine things - but I know what my response would be: I would watch them once, in mild disappointment (just as I did with Persée), and then leave them on the shelf.

But I'm still looking. I'll report back if I find anything that changes my mind. And don't think I'm not grateful for all your suggestions; I am.

[DarkAngel]

What a great asset youtube is for opera DVD buyer!

-You can either look up video samples for specific opera performance you are looking to buy
-Or you search favorite opera for all available performances and then discover gems that are not widely known or promoted

I used the 2nd approach to order a little known version of Mozart Marriage of Figaro that was 1/2 the price of the critics current fav version,
but from the video samples just seemed much better overall to me.

I currently have these two which are fine but still not ideal for me:

 


I was going to buy the new Pappano ROH version David Vicar production, but it is very expensive both new and used, cost as much as two above combined! After doing one final search at youtube discovered this great version that is almost unknown for 1/2 the cost of Pappano, seems to have better stage design, costumes, and more ageeable cast........but no superpower opera "names"

 

Awaiting arrival to make sure the full version is a great as the samples seem to indicate, principle singers are  Alessandra Zapparoli, Riccardo Mirabelli, director Maurizio Picconi Rome opera..........this is only opera DVD on Amazon for this team and it has no feedback yet, so without youtube I would have never considered it.

The video samples for Pappano ROH are very good, especially Persson playing Susana and Schrott as Figaro.......but not thrilled with Roschmann as Countess Rosina

[DarkAngel]

One can of course never be certain of how someone else will respond, but I've never encountered a bad word regarding this Les Indes Galantes. There are, it's true, in its long unfolding of events, a few moments when one might get a bit restless (I find, after three viewings, that the Aztecs go on just a little too long, myself); but those people so clearly loved what they were doing, and were so astoundingly good at doing it, and the whole production bristles with so much sympathetic ingenuity, and Danielle de Niese is so completely adorable (I do believe that Hebe is running the whole show, no really, I do), and Patricia Petibon is such a warmly humorous Red Indian princess, and Christie enriches every moment with such vibrant and rich orchestral playing, that I think not to respond to it one would have to be something like a block of wood or a stone. (Not that there aren't some very fine blocks of wood and stones - I won't hear a word said against them.)

I absolutely love the Rameau Indes Galantes DVD, just blew me away. The vocals, the brilliant creative staging and costumes like a technicolor explosion, and the many beautiful dance elements and the music all combined into a great artistic masterwork......I am checking into anything by Rameau now! After seeing this I wonder why Rameau is so rarely performed compared to the big names?

[71 dB]

I absolutely love the Rameau Indes Galantes DVD, just blew me away. The vocals, the brilliant creative staging and costumes like a technicolor explosion, and the many beautiful dance elements and the music all combined into a great artistic masterwork......I am checking into anything by Rameau now! After seeing this I wonder why Rameau is so rarely performed compared to the big names?

Yes, fantastic DVD indeed. So fantastic that even my "jazz only, violins suck" -father started to warm up to classical music after I shown him this DVD. I also have Les Boréades by Christie. It is very black and white compared to Indes Galantes but the choreography is brilliant too.

Rameau has been ignored by many for long but fortunately his music is being "discovered." Rameau is one of my top 10 composers.

I'd like to buy much more opera DVD's but they cost serious money. Many of them have 4:3 picture and crappy stereo sound from the analog TV era. 

[Fëanor]

...

I'd like to buy much more opera DVD's but they cost serious money. Many of them have 4:3 picture and crappy stereo sound from the analog TV era. 

Amen to that, brother.

Philistine that I am,  I would give up the teensy tiniest bit of ultimate musical excellent for good production values and modern video & sound technology (and relatively attractive female leads).

[DarkAngel]

Philistine that I am,  I would give up the teensy tiniest bit of ultimate musical excellent for good production values and modern video & sound technology (and relatively attractive female leads).

That is the catch 22 of opera DVDs.........

The singers physical appearance, costumes, stage sets become just as important as the actual singing to have a great DVD.
Fortunately the female baroque opera world has plenty of very attractive young singers.

BTW Danielle de Niese looks fabulous in Indes Galantes with that little cupid outfit.........

As far as buying opera DVDs I am amazed at how high priced used opera DVDs sell for at Amazon, not much discount to new DVD
Still as mentioned before because most operas fit on 1 DVD usually cheaper than 2-3 CD version.........

[Fëanor]

That is the catch 22 of opera DVDs.........
...
Fortunately the female baroque opera world has plenty of very attractive young singers.

BTW Danielle de Niese looks fabulous in Indes Galantes with that little cupid outfit.........
...

Thanks for the tip!!   0:)

[DarkAngel]

Thanks for the tip!!   0:)

See for yourself.............she has the "hula hoop" in this short scence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmCEjoSnfWA

Also something in this scence strangely reminds me of Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) but I can't quite put my finger on it, hmmm.....

[DarkAngel]

I absolutely love the Rameau Indes Galantes DVD, just blew me away. The vocals, the brilliant creative staging and costumes like a technicolor explosion, and the many beautiful dance elements and the music all combined into a great artistic masterwork......I am checking into anything by Rameau now! After seeing this I wonder why Rameau is so rarely performed compared to the big names?

To complement my Rameau Indes Galantes DVD I did the next logical step and placed order for Les Paladins:
(with Sandrine Piau and Christie conducting hard to resist)



Although modern production, the visuals are very creative and dramatic......leaving traditionalists scratching thier heads  
This is great art IMO, amazing use of multi-level back projected screens, dance routines blend classical with modern dance tecnique

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7guIwiwUof0&feature=related

[Elgarian]

I absolutely love the Rameau Indes Galantes DVD, just blew me away. The vocals, the brilliant creative staging and costumes like a technicolor explosion, and the many beautiful dance elements and the music all combined into a great artistic masterwork.

Been away for a while, but just wanted to express my pleasure at reading about your pleasure in Les Indes Galantes. I've wondered, myself, about getting the Boreades or the Paladins, but the snippets on you tube haven't yet quite persuaded me to do so.

Don't forget, in all this understandable Rameau-enthusiasm, that even this wonderful Les Indes Galantes is by no means so magical, and so completely transporting, for me, as the Lully Cadmus and Hermione I've enthused about earlier in this thread. Not that they can be compared in any sensible sense - but if I had to throw all my DVDs away except one, it's the Cadmus that I'd keep.

[DarkAngel]

Been away for a while, but just wanted to express my pleasure at reading about your pleasure in Les Indes Galantes. I've wondered, myself, about getting the Boreades or the Paladins, but the snippets on you tube haven't yet quite persuaded me to do so.

Don't forget, in all this understandable Rameau-enthusiasm, that even this wonderful Les Indes Galantes is by no means so magical, and so completely transporting, for me, as the Lully Cadmus and Hermione I've enthused about earlier in this thread. Not that they can be compared in any sensible sense - but if I had to throw all my DVDs away except one, it's the Cadmus that I'd keep.

I have the Lully DVD Persee in my stack to watch...........

I was watching the Monteverdi Orfeo DVD recently
-love the grand hollywood entrance of maestro Savall with his flowing professor robes coming down center isle with brass sections and drums in the balcony. The original instruments of small orchestra are like museum pieces and all wear the black professor robes, quite impressive!



You tube has this scence available for viewing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxBT1pfVAKQ

[Elgarian]

I have the Lully DVD Persee in my stack to watch...........

Definitely it would be best to watch that before the Cadmus. Coming to it after Cadmus, I was very, very disappointed.

I was watching the Monteverdi Orfeo DVD recently
-love the grand hollywood entrance of maestro Savall with his flowing professor robes coming down center isle with brass sections and drums in the balcony. The original instruments of small orchestra are like museum pieces and all wear the black professor robes, quite impressive!

I have this, and it is impressive, I agree. The dancing, with those costumes swirling around with such grace and naturul rhythm, is particularly delightful, I find. Also I love the Claude Lorraine Arcadian backdrops. But other parts seem very static, and I have difficulty sustaining interest in some of the proceedings - such as the interminable conversation Orpheus has with Charon. Phew.