Timely, entertaining production = euro trash?!
Thomas Pollak | Brisbane, Australia | 05/21/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am always happy about reviewers using the expression euro trash. not sure what exactly it means, but it usually indicates that it is an entertaining and clever production. and so is this one. the previous reviewer points out that the lead tenor looks like a whale and that there are ballet dancers on stage most of the time, which he thinks are just distracting. I couldnt agree more and I think it was very clever from the director to have the dancers to distract from the singers visually, as you wouldnt believe them for a second that they are madly in love. also the "number" of two guys is just two guys dancing with each other. that should be perfectly acceptable in the 21st century. overall I think it is a very entertaining production and what I really liked about the dvd production is that they used overlays of different scenes (eg singers and dancers or close up and wide angle) so that you dont miss anything thats going on stage.
I have to agree that the singers are only adequate, but if you are looking for a timely, entertaining and clever production, go for it. People who dont like euro trash should rather stick to their stone age material."
More Euro Trash
Peter Stead | Ft. Lauderdale.FL | 05/16/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
""Rondine" is a lovely work,apart from the old Carteri DVD it has fared badly so far.
This latest version from Torre del Lago is truly abysmal.Another Euro trash production. A pair of dancers are almost always onstage,even during the singers' biggest moments.They add nothing and are a distraction. It gets worse in the second act where the waiters are dressed in jockey shorts,and two of them perform a "number".
The singers are no more than adequate.The Ruggero looks like a beached whale,very ugly.Looking like this I expected an excellent voice,but he very ordinary. Hard to know why he was cast.
The City Opera telecast their production years ago,and it was very faithful to the opera,with a cast of young,attractive,talented singers.Wish they would issue it.
"Rondine" in the past few years has come into it's own in the theater,but on DVD it is suffering the same fate it had before the recent rediscovery.
I'm not crazy about the Met's 20's production,but given the competition it would be a welcome issue."