Search - Massenet - Thais / Mei, Pertusi, Joyner, Fel, Viotti, Venice Opera on DVD

Excellent music, doubtful production.

Vernal E. Richardson | 08/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The music performance is excellent and very consistent, considering that this is a live performance. I didn't object to the nudity, although it seemed unnecessary, perhaps just a gimmick to sell tickets. It does make it impossible for me to show this to my young students, something I had wanted to do.



The set is rather heavily symbolic, especially the scene with a forest of crosses. The dance during the Meditation was also rather obvious, playing down to the audience.



Even with the production weaknesses, this DVD is a welcome addition to my collection."

Stunning!!

Alana London | New York | 02/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have never seen it before but have a vinyl Renee Doria recording of the opera. I thought there would never be anything that could compare with my vinyl set but this is just so fabulous. Mei, Pertusi, Joyner, all are vocally and dramatically so fine. The photography and sound is wonderful. In fact, everything about it is more than you could ever think of to want in a dvd of opera. You might have to quit your job to just stay home and watch it all the time. Would that all dvds of opera were as good as this."

Not perfect but the only available DVD

A. BOSS | Mountainside, NJ United States | 12/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Actually, I'd rate this 4 1/2 stars. This is a very good opera very well performed and this DVD is at present the only (therefore the best) commercial DVD of it. I recommend it unless you find nudity (there's lots of it in the ballets) or what some reviewers refer to as inappropriate use of the cross unacceptable.



The orchestra is very good; the staging, although not entirely conventional, works; the singing and acting is mostly very good."