Product Description

Claudio Abbado gives a commanding performance in this production of Rossini's comic opera The Barber of Seville. Hermann Prey brings to life Rossini's character of Figaro and his hectic life with a terrific supporting cast of Teresa Berganza, Luigi Alva, Enzo Dara, and Paolo Montarsolo. Directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, the film is visually stunning and one can see why this production is destined to be a classic.

Hermann Prey: Figaro
Teresa Berganza: Rosina
Luigi Alva: Count Almaviva
Enzo Dara: Bartolo
Paolo Montarsolo: Don Basilio
Renato Cesari: Fiorello
Stefania Malagu: Berta
Luigi Roni: Officer
Hans Kraemer: Ambrogio
Karl Schaidler: Notary
Bruno Bartoletti conducting New Philharmonia Orchestra and Ambrosian Singers

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #142754 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-02-12
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: Italian
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 141 minutes

Amazon.com
Like all successfully filmed operas, Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's 1974 film of his 1972 La Scala production of The Barber of Seville weaves its magic on multiple levels: naturalistic lighting and camera work that take the viewer to the heart of the action; wonderful casting and magnificent singing; singers who can act; and conducting (by Claudio Abbado) that simply revels in the richness of an extraordinarily vibrant and much-loved score.

Rossini's 1816 work, based on Beaumarchais's Figaro characters, is one of the great joys of comic opera, crammed with familiar arias and duets, all of which drive the galloping pace of the book without ever interrupting the plot. At the heart of the tale is Figaro (Hermann Prey, making the most of his trademark theme "Largo al factotum") and the love triangle of Count Almaviva (a lusty Luigi Alva), the willful Rosina (Teresa Berganza at the peak of her mezzo-soprano powers), and her guardian with an ulterior motive Bartolo (Enzo Dara). --Piers Ford

Additional features
The DVD offers standard 4:3 full-screen format with a PCM Stereo soundtrack, producing a merely average viewing experience. Apart from a number of language subtitles there are no extras. (A history of the production would have been useful.) But these shortcomings, and the occasionally dull sound quality, are soon forgotten in the heat of the action. --Piers Ford

Customer Reviews

Teresa Berganza is Not the Only Attraction Here
For those who aren't too familiar with the opera singers, their attention is of course first drawn to Berganza especially at a time when Abbado was so young and had yet to become the permanent conductor of Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra as the successor of Karajan, a post which Abbado occupied for over ten years.

Bergonza left a very strong impression upon those who have heard her for: 1/ she sings not just from her heart but also from her soul-- in a way that excells Marian Anderson; 2/ she possesses a most powerful and yet velvet-like tone as when she sang Mozart's Figaro or La clemenza di Tito; 3/ when she sings, she really sings which is so effortless: not screaming to the notes as some modern opera singers are equating the two(!). Needless to say, her rhythm and musicality are superb.

Rossini doesn't require Berganza to sing full-throated as she did in Mozart, yet she was undoubtedly at her very prime when this was recorded and audience can't possibly be disappointed. Her acting was equally marvelous. She sort of outshone young Abbado. But she wasn't the only one, as we have such a strong teem here. The two love songs sang by the Count was most intriquing. Likewise, the dark and ringing voice of the barber or even the Doctor are all so impressing...

Abbado was not nervous at all neither was he as graceful as he has later become. Some would even say, when the Barber first sang the song figaro, the orchestra was too loud for the audience to enjoy his singing. Otherwise, the support he gave to the singers were as good as James Levine, if not better.

The acting or even the staging and director are all as good as one could expect. The singers faced the camera only when they are thinking to themselves (instead of commuicating to their counterpart) or talking to the audiece (as the narrator) and in any event this is rare and well justified. The other complaint for this DVD is it's recorded sound especially the orhcestra. Of course, one shouldn't compare the orchestra with a young conductor, however talented he might have been, with full-fledged Furtwangler with Vienna Philharmonic, otherwise, it would deserve a full five star.

For those who are not happy with this production, they may try the one by the Netherland Opera conducted by Alberto Zedda, which is 18 years younger. The approach and techniques especially of the staging are more modern. But if you're concerned with singing or music, this is a much better choice.

Divine music with magnificent performance
Nobody will deny that this opera is the masterpiece of Rossini. Everything in this opera reflects his genius talent and is so enjoyable from the beautiful melodious music with so many belcanto techniques to the comical story itself. I have seen this opera performed in three versions and performances, and this DVD performance is the best of all the three.
In this performance we will be enchanted by the naughty acting and delicate singing of wellknown Teresa Berganza as the mutinous Rosina, in her rich soprano voice singing perfect belcanto techniques. She is matched by the comical performance of Luigi Alva as Count Almaviva alias Lindoro in his soft light tenor voice, his belcanto singing adding to the magnificence and beauty of the music. Herman Prey in his clear baritone voice as the mischievous Figaro and wellknown Bass Baritone singer Enzo Dara contributed to the excellent performance, so that the whole opera become a continuous joy to be watched and listened to.
We also liked the beautiful and matching background scenery and the harmonious choirs.
In short there is no such performance is as magnificent and excellent in singing or acting as this DVD version.

Great comedy and music make this a great film
I first viewed Jean-Pierre Ponelle's film version of Rossini's 1816 opera "The Barber of Seville" on a DG VHS tape, in 1990. I was taken with the acting, singing, sets, props, and found it thoroughly delightful. I tend to prefer orchestral, chamber music and opera excerpts to complete operas, but this held my interest, so much so that I bought the DVD in 2003.

The DVD seems to have a darker patina than the VHS tape did, but superior sound. However, this was recorded in 1972, and one cannot expect the same quality of picture and sound as DVDs made in the 1990s or more recently.

Of the singing, Teresa Berganza is wonderful as Rosina, quite possibly the best Rosina of the past several decades. She also acts wonderfully, with a comic twist where needed. Her expressions are humorous and perfectly fit her role as Dr. Bartolo's ward, determined to thwart and undermine him at every turn. The other singers: Luigi Alva, Hermann Prey, Paolo Montarsolo, Enzo Dara, Stefania Malagu - are all excellent in their roles. Sometimes the sound is congested/slightly distorted when Montarsolo or Dara hit a fortissimo note, but this was likely in the original tape master and could not be corrected. The La Scala orchestra under Claudio Abbado's direction play wonderfully, and the chorus sings heartily in the brief scenes at the beginning of Act I, and where the officers' regiment appears later in Act II. The precision between orchestra and singers is always excellent, and Abbado is not afraid of fast tempos when needed. The texture of the orchestra is light when needed, but with adequate heft when it is called for.

Jean Pierre Ponelle's film adaptation of "Barber" is very enjoyable. I also enjoyed Ponelle's version of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro", released this past summer on DG DVD.