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 enlarge | Director: Mate Rabinovski
Actors: Giovanni Furlanetto, Elzbieta Szmytka, Janice Watson, Ludovic Tezier, Francesca Provvisionato
Studio: Kultur Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $9.43
You Save: $20.56 (69%)
New (20) Used (7) from $9.43
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 75068
Format: Classical, Color, Dvd-video, Letterboxed, Ntsc
Languages: Italian (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 193 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6
ISBN: 0769714846
UPC: 032031148499
EAN: 9780769714844
ASIN: B00005NGAB
Theatrical Release Date: July 31, 2001
Release Date: July 31, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New Factory Sealed, Made in the USA
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| Customer Reviews:
 The Art Of Comedy: Opera Lessons In Laughter March 22, 2003
Rachel Garret (Beverly Hills)
7 out of 26 found this review helpful
Mozart's "Le Nozze Di Figaro" is really the sequel to Rossini's "Barber Of Seville". Chronologically, the story takes place in the time after Figaro the barber has helped the Count win the hand of the fair Rosina. Figaro is now a man servant to the Count (which if you really think about it puts the Count in an ungrateful and unfriendly light). Rosina, simply called "the Countess" in this particular opera, is facing a crisis. Her husband the Count is turning his affections to the maid Susanna Figaro's fiancee!(what a rotten apple the Count is!). But Figaro, Susanna and the Countess devise a great scheme to deceive the Count, to punish his roaming eye and to reconcile him with his wife.pWhat follows is a four act opera that is regarded by many as Mozart's most brilliant romantic comedy. At its time in the late eighteenth century, in the wake of French revolution, the opera was controversial, as was the French novels by Beamarchais, from which the opera was based. The bedroom comedy deals with class struggle, society and the fickle human nature. The Count is put to shame in the last act when he serenades the Countess in disguise as Susanna, only to discover it is his wife all along. "Contessa! Perdono!" the Count sings in a supplication of forgiveness, in music that expresses emotion and deep feeling. The Countess forgives her husband and all is forgivened. The rest of the characters join in a sublime chorus announcing a happy finale- Figaro will marry Susanna as planned and the Count and the Countess renew their love.
An almost perfect Nozze di Figaro January 24, 2003
20 out of 21 found this review helpful
Singing and acting are without fault, often exciting, right for Mozart's grand music and for da Ponte's score. The orchestra also excels, playing the glorious music while leaving the lead to the singers when it should. As an earlier reviewer noted, the casting with young singers/actors makes the proceedings seem credible and logical - the cast truly brings music and plot to life! The viewer needs not look at obese aging stars cast in young roles: there is no need to be "sophisticated" and look beyond that kind of directorial transgression if not travesty. Unfortunately, the staging - scenery and costumes - is spartan and, with few exceptions, neither true to the 18th century nor, to my taste, pleasing to the eye. Also to my taste, it is perilously close to a hypermodern approach that may fit some situations but, please, not Mozart and not Figaro! In sum, this Figaro is delightful to the ear but a mixed experience for the eye. I rate it A- overall, with an A+ in all areas except staging - which rates a D+
A wonderful production of "Le Nozze" December 14, 2002
R. Nicholson
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
The Marriage of Figaro on this DVD is a good one, boasting fine acting and splendid voices. br / br /The production is done at the Opera National de Lyon with its small and intimate stage and is performed before a live audience. Paolo Olmi conducts the orchestra. The sets have an attractive pastel quality without being overdone and the costumes fit the period for which the work was written. Also, the camera angles and video switching is well done. br / br /This opera was one of three where Mozart used Lorenzo Da Ponte for the libretto and with the same results: a plot full of twists, suspense and surprises. Add to the words, the great music of Mozart, and you have a winning combination. br / br /Stellar performances by Giovanni Furlanetto as Figaro, Elzbeta Szymtka as Suzanne, Ludovic Tezier as the count, Janice Watson as the Countessa and Francesca Provvisionato as Cheribino highlight the opera. br / br /Although this cast does not have the blockbuster stars to sing the leading roles, it does have actors and actresses that seem to have a special sexy chemistry with each other that makes for a wonderful presentation. They are young, vibrant, enthusiastic and committed to the roles they are portraying onstage and yet at the same time seem to be having a great deal of fun. br / br /A wonderful production of "Le Nozze": one you will be happy to have in your collection of great opera.
 Figaro a Mess December 12, 2002
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
Mozart's best opera is done almost no justice with this poorly staged, boring mess. The set is sparse and uninteresting and the perfmormers lack the spontenaeity and vim that Mozart/DaPonte's characters require. Furlanetto is terrific as Figaro, and Szymtka is a charming Susanna, but neither the countess (played like an amateur) nor the count (simply boring) hold our attention. The actual blocking looks as if it were done by a first-year directing student. It is often imbalanced and, again, because it rarely enhances the dramatic tension of the (admittedly tense) situation, it is boring. Simply put, this opera needs to be put up by a cast of talented actors (singing isn't enough for -Figaro-) and a director sensitive to the subtlties of Mozart's complex and emotionally nuanced score.
Wonderfully done! December 9, 2002
30 out of 31 found this review helpful
This is a very fine Figaro, and probably the best version currently available on DVD. Technically, the DVD is very good, with a clear sharp picture and good sound (it was recorded in 1994). The sets are also very nice - vibrant and colorful, suggesting a sunny mediterranian setting. pThe performance is excellent both in terms of singing and orchestral playing. The Lyon Opera Orchestra is a technically suberb ensemble with convincing leadership in conductor Paolo Olmi. His interpretation is full of spirit, and he seems to find an ideal middle road in terms of performance style - tempos are lively, but never pushed to uncomfortable speeds, and slower arias are geven their full breadth without ever becoming heavy, slow or marmoreal. Clarity between strings and woodwinds is exemplary.pThe youthful, attractive cast is just as good. While none of them were previously known to me, they all turned out to be secure singers and very good actors who become convincingly involved in their roles. I found the roles of the Count and Figaro to be especially well done. I was a little less enamoured of the Susanna and Contessa both of whom are very good, while not being excellent. Cherubino is also top-notch - the singer portraying the role sings and acts wonderfully, and looks more convincingly like a teenage boy than any other production I have ever seen. pTruth be told, I did not expect to enjoy this Figaro as much as I did given my unfamiliarity with the cast and conductor. But now having seen it I'm VERY glad I decided to take a chance and buy it. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, but those looking for a good Figaro on DVD can buy this one with confidence - It really is superb... Enjoy!!
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