Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11071 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-07-04
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: AC-3, Classical, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 116 minutes

Amazon.com
This extraordinarily powerful 1983 production may be the best-sung performance by Luciano Pavarotti on DVD, but when acting values are counted in, Ingvar Wixell manages to outshine the tenor star. Verdi gave the Duke two of Italian opera's most brilliant arias ("Questa o quella" and "La donna e mobile"), but he gave the deformed jester Rigoletto a depth and complexity of character that is reflected in music of great variety and enormous emotional impact: the cruel mockery of the opening scene, the self-doubts inspired by his dialogue with Sparafucile, the paternal anxieties and final despair at his daughter's sad fate, and the burning, self-destructive thirst for revenge. All these motives work their way into music of great dramatic richness, variety, and intensity. Wixell rises to its challenges, not only in the title role but in a cameo appearance as Rigoletto's nemesis Monterone. Location filming provides an atmosphere unavailable in staged productions. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews

Pavarotti in Rigoletto
Pavarotti is in his element. Wixell is OK. I do not see any special qualities in his performance. Gruberova looks and sounds mediocre. Enjoy Pavarotti! R.K.

Rigoletto-Pavarotti-Wixell
This is a strong production filled with beautiful and dramatic singing, and Wixell's playing a dual role tightens the story. Some artistic lapses in the directing are made up for by the exceptional final act.

What a ball!
This was great! Pavarotti is fun (and young) the sets are nice, Rigoletto is terribly tragic and the courtiers are strong. The maid (the old witch) was very convincing. Any criticisms would be minor.