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VHS : I Vespri SicilianiIn association with Amazon.comstarring: Giorgio Zancanaro, Enzo Capuano, Francesco Musinu, Chris Merritt, Ferruccio Furlanetto directed by: Christopher Swann  List Price: $49.95 Price: $1.89 You Save: $48.06 (96%)Prices subject to change. Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786303478302 Format: Color, NTSC ISBN: 6303478301 Label: Homevision Manufacturer: Homevision Number Of Items: 2 Publisher: Homevision Release Date: September 21, 2001 Running Time: 211 minutes Studio: Homevision Sales Rank: 63149 Related Items:
Editorial Review: Amazon.com: I Vespri Siciliani ("The Sicilian Vespers") dates from 1855, immediately after the composition of Verdi's three most popular operas, Rigoletto, Il trovatore and La traviata. It marks a crucial stage in his artistic development but has not been very popular for various reasons: it was composed, in French, for a premiere in Paris, but is now usually sung in a slightly ill-fitting Italian translation; it is expensive to produce (including a lavish ballet, which was mandatory for Paris productions); and it marked a change to Verdi's later style, which has greater depth but less mass appeal. Its first video recording--visually lavish and generally well-sung--includes all the ballet music, which is often reduced or omitted, and (for reasons that are not entirely clear--maybe a preference for 19th-century costumes) updates the action from the 13th century to the Napoleonic era. Riccardo Muti conducts with his usual energy and polish, and he has a great orchestra and chorus. A production in French would be welcome, if (improbably) the right voices could be found. --Joe McLellan Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Vocal feastNOTE: Be sure to buy the less expensive release now available (I just bought this one at more than twice the other's price...!!!). This is a rich rich melodic feast sung by wonderful voices...particularly the baritone and bass. Contrary to other reviews here,I don't worry about costumes or production details unless they are egregious...and these are fine, perfectly acceptable. I also don't worry about DVD extras -- I buy for the music and the singing and in those qualities this DVD and this ... Read More Rating:  - Verdi's Rightfully Neglected PieceWhile I was familiar with the music of this opera, I was quite happy to get it on DVD, since it is very rarely performed. After seeing it, I understood why. It is definitely more enjoyable on the car CD player, than as an actual visual performance. While the opera is certainly one of Verdi's lesser successes, the ridiculous production, with Napoleonic outfits was very annoying ( the actual story takes place in the XIIIth. Century), and anyone familiar with the original story, or at least following ... Read More Rating: - Wonderful Performance....Lousy DVDVespri is a wonderful, underappreciated opera. It probably has the most ensemble numbers of all of Verdi's operas, even more so than Ballo. It requires great singers but has relatively few "showy" numbers for them, a fact star singers may resent given the length of the work. The soprano gets the haunting "Arrigo...." which is really part of a duet, the well known Bolero, and a melodramatic ballad in the first act; the base gets the eloquent "O tu Palermo." The musical and dramatic quality of tenor and baritone ... Read More Rating: - Sicilian VespersI put off watching this DVD for quite sometime. When I did finally view it, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The singing was wonderful, the recording was good, and the setting was effective. The 'Sicilian Vespers' took place in the 13th century, but the costumes here are updated to the 19th - that is Verdi's own time. The opera is longer than usual for Verdi, but it goes by quickly. About twenty minutes of the 3d act is devoted to a ballet that could stand on its own as a performance piece. I'm astounded ... Read More Rating: - for Verdi loversThis is one of Verdi's most neglected operas, and we are fortunate to have at least this video version since you'll probably never get a chance to see it live. If you love Verdi, this DVD is well worth the price. Cheryl Studer is outstanding as usual. Browse for similar items by category:
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