Search - Rossini - Le Comte Ory / Massis · Laho · Montague · Shaulis · Tézier · Davis · Jérôme Savary · Glyndebourne Festival Opera on DVD

A wonderful and sparkling opera DVD!

T. C. | 07/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rossini composed the opéra comique Le Comte Ory in 1828 for the Opera of Paris. Eugène Scribe and Charles-Gaspard Delestre-Poirson wrote the French libretto. Part of the music Rossini borrowed from his opera Il viaggio a Reims. In fact, only one of the scenes from Act One is from completely newly composed music - all the rest is either adapted, or simply put to new words.



The new DVD is from a 1997 production of the Glyndebourn Festival. This is absolutely a charming production, a joy to look at visually. The first act settings looks like drawings taken from some children books. The costumes are colorful and beautiful. The second act happens in a large room in countess Adele house. Well designed, and the rain going on the other side of the widow is so realistic. The entire cast act impressively and there is much humor and fun with many brilliant ideas in the director work. Andrew Davis is conducting The London Philharmonic and everything moves well with energy and drive. The music is absolutely charming and bubbles like champagne.



As for the singers: most impressive of all is the French soprano Annick Massis. This lady is AMAZING!!! : A beautiful soprano, not even a pinch of shrillness, excellent technique and brilliant coloratura. In the first act, she finishes her aria with a long sustained note and then faints. I almost fainted too... The other women in the cast are excellent too. Isolier is sung by mezzo-soprano Diana Montague. She is a well-known singer from numerous recordings, and she is charming both in singing and acting. So is the other mezzo, Jane Shaulis as the countess companion Ragonde.



The leading role is sung by the Belgian tenor Marc Laho. He has a sweet and flexible, if not a very large voice, but it is totally appropriate for this not especially dramatic role. It is good to have so many French native speakers in the cast so pronunciation is excellent with Laho, as it is with Ory's friend Raimbaud sung here by one of the best French baritones - Ludovic Tezier. Bass Julien Robbins sings Ory's tutor. He is generally ok, even if here and there I noticed a not absolutely perfect note.



Technical quality is excellent. 136 minutes of delight and amusement.

"

Loving "Le Comte Ory"

J. Sehulster | Stamford, CT USA | 11/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Given the infrequency of productions of Rossini's "Le Comte Ory," this DVD performance from the 1997 Glyndebourne Festival production is an absolute must-see for both veteran "Ory" fans and newcomers alike. Happily, the performance of this infectiously delightful opera is completely entertaining, few quibbles aside.



Count Ory, like Mozart's "Don Giovanni," is a sex addict on the loose, prowling about the countryside for women. But any darker shades you might find in Mozart are absent in Rossini's bright and bubbling score. Disguised as a religious hermit/spiritual counselor, Ory sets his sites on the beautiful but chaste and unwed Countess Adele. Along the way he settles for an appetizer or two. The women, you see, are all alone and unprotected because their men are off to fight the Crusades.



Ory's page, Isolier, has similar designs on Adele. By the second act, both Isolier and Ory, this time disguised as a nun, get a go for Adele's bed. But the Crusaders return in the nick of time; Ory takes flight; Isolier wins the Countess's hand.



Tenor Marc Laho is a smiling, ingenuous, but persistent Ory, a lovable character with expressive eyes. The terrors of Rossini's high tessitura don't daunt Laho, though I'd prefer a more focused top in the voice. But Annick Massis, the Countess Adele, is phenomenal! She sails through the role with a bright, attractive, and accurate soprano. I found myself very drawn by her graceful moves on stage. Mezzo Diana Montague is a trim and expressive Isolier. The grand trio at the end of Act II is heavenly, especially the contributions of Massis and Montague.



Julien Robbins sings a stolid Governor and Jane Schaulis is a comic Ragonde. Andrew Davis conducts.



Jerome Savary's direction is fluid, keeping one's attention through Rossini's repetitions. Though some silly moments, thankfully, there is a minimum of distracting stage business; the bit of Glyndebourne picnickers wandering onto the stage brings a good laugh. Ezio Toffolutti's production is tastefully hued in the color of medieval tapestries. It has many nice touches, such as the rain falling during the storm at night or the languid, steamy baths in the beginning of Act II. This is a production you will actually want to watch again, let along listen to over and over!



My love for Rossini's "Le Comte Ory" was based only on the three commercial recordings. How wonderful to have the visuals in my mind's eye fulfilled by this video! If you don't already know the opera, you're in for a treat."

As Silly as Opera Gets!

Giordano Bruno | Wherever I am, I am. | 10/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All the more reason to enjoy it! Goofy as the story seems, and gaudy as the costumes are, the music is profoundly crafted and polished in tehniques of composition, and the singing on this disk is superb. Other tha Mozart, no composer of comic opera comes close to Rossini's brilliance in combining sophisticated music with witty fluff on stage."

Enjoyable Rossini

Opera Lover | New Zealand | 10/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent cast,Diana Montague in the trouser role sang and acted with her usual brilliance. All the other singers were in great voice . Thought that the mens' role descended to farce at times but on the whole a very enjoyable experience. For sheer entertainment thoroughly reccomended."