Product Description

This spectacular compilation prsents the very best of Placido Domingo, Kira Te Kanawa and others. The superb performances were filmed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the Arena di Verona and La Scala, Milan.

Features operatic roles by Puccini, Verdi, Strauss and Offenbach.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #111396 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-09-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: German, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 111 minutes

Amazon.com
"Puccini" and "Love Scenes" are strong selling points, but they don't do complete justice to this varied and excellent compilation. It also includes scenes (not love scenes) from Verdi's Otello, Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann, and Johann Strauss Jr.'s Die Fledermaus, all of which add considerably to its value. Placido Domingo and Kiri Te Kanawa are featured on the cover, but you'll also enjoy outstanding performances by Hermann Prey, Neil Shicoff, Sylvia Sass, Mirella Freni, and others. One of Domingo's numbers is the "Kleinzach" song from Tales of Hoffmann, also included in Kultur's Great Tenor Performances collection. Though it's one of Domingo's best performances, you may not want to own it twice--three times if you get the outstanding complete Hoffmann. Quibbles aside, most of this collection is devoted to love scenes--material best expressed by music--in fine performances. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews

very good
It's a very good video, but take notice that this one completes the other released in 88' called "opera favorites by puccini". Except one thing: Aragall in Tosca, is not good on high notes, I will not say as usual. 111 min. Tosca, Boheme, Manon, Butterfly, Il Tabaro (?).Except for Boheme, the great arias are on the other video, but interesting. Other scenes from Strauss, Verdi...Look on internet for more details

like a Box of Chocolates
In addition to Puccini loves scenes, also included are scenes from Verdi, Strauss, and Offenbach, and various singers in addition to Placido Domingo and Kiri Te Kanawa.

Cotrubas and Shicoff are superb in La Boheme. Placido Domingo performs an energetic Kleinzach from Tales of Hoffman. There's also passion and great singing in Il Tabarro's couple, Giorgetta and Luigi.

This is like a box of chocolates: some selections are just okay, and several are delicious.

Be warned about Kultur!
This is yet another shoddy Kultur production. They gain access to very good productions and then do not bother to clean them up for present-day viewing, nor do they provide any liner notes. I have vowed never to buy another Kultur production because I have been disappointed too many times in the past. There are many companies that take pride in their productions. Kultur does not seem to be one of them.