Verdi: Rigoletto (New York, 1977)




Cast: Rigoletto (Cornell MacNeil), Plácido Domingo (Il Duca di Mantova), Ileana Cortubas (Gilda), Justino Diaz (Sparafucile), Isola Jones (Maddalena), Ariel Bybee (Giovanna), Robert Goodloe (Marullo), James Atherton (Borsa Matteo), Philip Booth (Il Conte di Ceprano), Loretta di Franco (La Contessa di Ceprano), Peter Sliker (Usciere di corte), Alma Jean Smith (Paggio della Contessa), Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, James Levine (conductor), John Dexter (director), Tanya Moiseiwitch (set and costume designer), Kirk Browning (video director)

Recorded live at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 7 November 1977

Issued on DVD by Deutsche Grammophon in 2004 (NTSC, region 0, menus in English, subtitles in Italian, English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese)

Technical Details:
Picture Format : 4:3
Sound : PCM Stereo / DTS 5.1 / Dolby Digital 5.1

Running Time : 137 minutes

Sung in Italian

This DG release is particularly welcome given the few fine video recordings of Rigoletto. Among its virtues is capturing the young Domingo at his most lyrical, though in the process his Duke is a more sympathetic villain than most. He does omit the unwritten top notes; otherwise he satisfies the demands of the rôle. Cotrubas's Gilda is beautifully phrased and effectively acted, making the character credible if a bit more mature than usual. MacNeil is past his best years as the jester with weakness in his middle and lower voice. Still, fifteen years of experience in the part show in dramatic effectiveness. The rest of the cast is filled out effectively from the courtiers through a physically sexy Maddalena and a relatively restrained and underplayed Sparafucile.

The John Dexter production is grand in scale and authentic in period, taking its cue from the paintings of Giorgione. The Met orchestra is up to its exemplary standard and the chorus achieves the near perfection which David Stivender demanded. Levine maintains balances, but the combination of deliberate tempi and opening minor cuts removes urgency from the performance.

Video is soft as expected for the recording's age. Sound is satisfying with effective separation, though of course it is limited by its analogue source. Kirk Browning's direction is satisfying despite occasional compromises due to low light levels. With a helpful twenty-eight page booklet, DG has wrapped up an admirable package of traditional Verdi well sung, well staged and well presented.
 
Related websites:
Universal Classics www.universalclassics.com
Deutsche Grammophon www.deutschegrammophon.com/dvd
 
Helmut Weber, 20 October 2005
 
See also Michael Richter's Introduction to the DVD, for a list of other reviews see the DVD Project page.