Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65193 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-05-09
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: AC-3, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled
• Original language: Italian
• Subtitled in: German, English, French, Italian, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 134 minutes

Customer Reviews

Suberb Audio, Video Disappointing at Times
A suberb production well worth the preserving. The audio is specatular. Domingo and Scotto are stunning. I've never heard this sung better! The only disappointing feature is the spottiness of the video. Most of the time it is acceptable, but there are intermittent periods of "ghosting" where the video is indistinct. While distracting to the viewer, its effect on the overall performance does not diminish the impact of a vocally wonderful performance. I hope this there will be more DVD's of some of these Met performances that truly rate as classics. I have many of these on Laser Disc and hope that the Dolby 5.1 will add to my enjoyment.

Great Opera, Pity about the Quality of the DVD.
Good Performances, Good Music and Production spoiled by the quality of the DVD. This production was described as "A Manon Lescaut of fluid movement", I have never come across a DVD with such jerky movement, in addition there were numerous irritating pauses, the lips of the singers were continuously out of sync with the sound (remeniscent of movies where the sound was added later). Never having encountered this before I assumed the problem was with my player but after trying the same disc in another player with the same result, I conclude that the problem is the disc. I found myself so irritated by this that after the first Act I turned the picture off and listened only to the sound.

Anyone who buys this DVD should do so only with the proviso that they can return the disc if these problems occur.

Puccini must be proud and thrilled!
This Manon caught Scotto in superb voice with drama and credibility in abundance. The word ravishlingly beautiful comes to mind in regards to her piano and forte notes. I wonder if she ever surpassed this performanace: a performance in every way simply overwhelming. I don't think her famous Barbaroli "Butterfly" is as great at this.I have not seen her "Francesca da Rimini" but it can't be better than this. Then again Zandonai is no Puccini. But that cast is as great as this one! Domingo is superb, piano and forte and acting-wise he is equally on par with Scotto. He owns Act III and she owns Act IV and they magnificently share the first two. Elvira is also wonderful, beautiful in tone and his acting too is very moving. He is an underated baritone for sure. This DVD is a vocal feast in every good sense of the word. The sets are beautiful and finally, Levine and the Met orchestra are as always magnificent and on this occasion drawn to greater heights by the great singing on stage. Overall a must have. Anyone who came late in Scotto's career must see and hear this to appreciate what the clamor was all about. In this performance she lives up to and beyond all the fuss that accompanied her performances. She like Domingo are committed artists in every role they sing. There should be special oscars and grammys for opera performances like this. They don't come along too often. If this doesn't become an Amazon.com big seller something is wrong somewhere.