Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #117194 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-07-20
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: Italian
• Subtitled in: English
• Dubbed in: Italian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 144 minutes

Customer Reviews

We'll Have to Wait for a Better One
This 1991 La Scala production of 'La Fanciulla del West' has one major drawback - one that is nearly fatal to it - and that is the singing of Mara Zampieri. Granted, the role of Minnie is a killer, but that's not the problem here; the problem is that Zampieri doesn't have an attractive voice and although she is musical and a reasonable actress (trying hard to fit her matronly presence into the role of a naïve tomboy role), the acidulous quality of her voice simply cannot be avoided. As far as I know, there is only one other competing DVD of 'Fanciulla,' and that is a 1983 production from Covent Garden with Carol Neblett and Placido Domingo. I have not seen it and cannot compare it with this one, but I've read (and heard) that it comes up short as well, primarily because the production is poor. Here, we have Jonathan Miller's expert stage direction and fairly good sets (although I must admit that the first act, in the 'Polka,' looks more like a cell block than a saloon). Loren Maazel conducts a flexible and dynamic performance, and the cast, other than Zampieri, is quite good, with Juan Pons as Jack Rance, and the inimitable Placido Domingo as Dick Johnson (aka the bandit Ramerrez). Also outstanding is Luigi Roni as the Wells Fargo agent, Ashby.

Oh, for the days of Dorothy Kirsten as Minnie! I never saw her in the role, but can imagine how she must have owned it. And Birgit Nilsson, not one thinks of in this genre, must have been outstanding, too. I frankly don't know what soprano singing currently could do justice the role; but I do know it wasn't Zampieri. Too bad.

Scott Morrison

Flawed production
There are some great aspects to this production: the orchestra, Domingo's voice and that of Pons. Zampieri's singing is bad, though. I wonder why they gave her the role. Also the supporting members of the cast, while doing some great singing, are poor actors, and their stage movements are usually awkward.

While the Royal Opera House DVD with Domingo and Neblett is pretty good, the great news is that the memorable production by Metropolitan Opera with Barbara Daniels and (yes) Domingo is now available on DVD. It is terrific.

This is dreadful!
This production is just dreadful compared to the other two available on DVD. Right from the beginning with a saloon that looked like a New York City tenement building, and costumes to match, with a chorus as dull as the gray of the room. Juan Pons as Jack Rance is able to sing the part, but that's all. He doesn't even come close to Sherrill Milnes' mean, tough guy portrayal. And Minnie, oh dear! Mara Zampieri was so all wrong for this role. Her voice I can only describe as "thin." When Placido Domingo finally arrived, he literally lit up the room with his presence. He remained the only bright spot in this entire production.

Definitely skip this one and go directly to the Met production with Barbara Daniels as Minnie, Sherrill Milnes as Jack Rance, and Placido Domingo as Dick Johnson. That one is a five star winner!