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- Verdi: La forza del destino (Mariinsky, 1998)
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- Cast: Galina Gorchakova
(Leonora), Gegam Gregorian (Don Alvaro), Nikolai Putilin (Don
Carlo), Marianna Tarasova (Preziosilla), Sergei Alexashkin (Padre
Guardiano), Georgy Zastavny (Fra Melitano), Kirov Orchestra and
Chorus/Mariinsky Theater, Valéry Gergiev (conductor),
Elijah Moshinsky (director)
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- Originally recorded live at
the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg 1998
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- Issued on DVD in 1998 by
Arthaus Musik (100 078, region 2, 5/PAL with menus in English,
German, French and Spanish and subtitles in English, German,
French and Dutch) and in 2000 by Kultur Video (Region 1/NTSC with
menus and subtitles in English)
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- Technical Details:
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (Arthaus) 4:3 (Kultur)
Sound: PCM Stereo
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- Running time: 160 minutes
(Arthaus) 167 minutes (Kultur)
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- Sung in Italian
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- Review of the Kulture
Video DVD
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- Overall, this performance is better for
study than for enjoyment. It is correct, complete (1862 version)
and dull. Direction by Elijah Moshinsky cannot readily be faulted;
it is conventional and historical. Gorchakova and Gregorian sing
well if without evidence of much understanding. Putilin is
resonant but even less persuasive, while Tarasova and Alexashkin
are not up to the vocal demands.
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- The faults and virtues of the recording
appear to lie with the conductor. Gergiev is characteristically
quick and characteristically insensitive to the shape of Verdi's
work. The singers' attitude seems all to often to be fear of the
baton. That said, there are no major blunders. Completeness
(notably including the "Sleale" scene) is a distinct virtue and
the clear, though dark video and crystalline audio serve the
production well. Overall, this release complements the Naples DVD
from Hardy, which is passionate and thrilling but severely cut and
poorly recorded.
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- Related
websites:
- Arthaus Musik www.arthaus-musik.de
- Kultur Video www.kultur.com/kulturvideo/about/about.htm
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- Michael Richter, 7 May 2003
- opera@mrichter.com
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- See also Michael
Richter's Introduction
to the DVD,
for a list of other
reviews see the DVD
Project page.
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