Gioachino Rossini: Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra - 7 Torino Teatro Regio, 7 Novembre 1985

I had been holding off purchasing this DVD due to some reviewers' negative reactions of "substandard, unsteady video done by amateurs" or words to that effect. Well, holding off was a mistake. The picture is similar to, or worst case, almost as good as most other live opera recordings from the same era (mid '80s). It is at least quite comparable to late '70s video from the Met.Video was done by at least three cameras and all were on tripods ... so much for being unsteady. I am not aware that amateurs bring multiple videocams into the theater and set up on tripods! The picture is a little dark at times (much of the action is at night). I agree the sound was recorded distantly and fades in and out to a degree. However, it is still a great video to own and watch, and would still be even if there were competition, which there ain't.The mid 1980s is actually my favorite era of Italian opera DVDs ... technologically advanced enough to get a generally satisfying picture and sound, and yet early enough that we don't have to worry about Eurotrash incursions. Keep 'em coming, please!

Yes the color is hazy, yes the sound fades in an out, yes the camera is unsteady and odd effects occur but! But the music is beautiful, it's splendid, it's one great aria, duet or chorus after another, it's Rossini in top form. The cast is excellent in this recording. Lella Cuberli is a magestic Elizabeth. Her solo arias are rendered with precision and heft. In the "Fellon, la pena avrai" she positively melts the others with the flame in her voice. Then gives a Bette Davis flick of the wrist to jangle her bracelets in an imperious underlining of her anger. Wow! what high drama! Then comes the beautiful resolution of the opera with "Fuggi amor". This is a wonderful satisfying opera.The costumes and scenery are an "empire" style with gold, white and pale blue to an almost Rococo effect. Inappropriate yes, but it is fun to watch. Since there is no other DVD available, this is worth the price for such a wonderful piece of Rossini.

It is always more fun to listen to Blake when he is the romantic hero or the tragic rejected lover. He plays the villain here, in fine voice, and you may be almost persuaded of the character. Another difficult-to-find dvd. Add it to your library if you can find it.

Don't buy it only because it is a revived Rossini. The production is only local standard, not up to par.

I agree with the other reviewer that this is a visually substandard production. I can't be sure, but I think that this is due in part to the fact that it was originally an Italian TV production. The conversion from European standard to North American standard TV may in part be responsible for this. Sometimes this gives the illusion of dancing flames in backstage "rooms" reflected on a wall. You can tell how fuzzy the picture is when you see the crisp subtitles superimposed. Having said all that---I had a whale of a time with it, really enjoying the view of current Italian opera that we don't often see. It is due in part to the static display of some of the scenes that we get the chance to see the stage as if we were sitting in the seats that I can actually afford--at the back of the theater. The sets appear to be mainly canvas, but with such well-done perspective that you are drawn into them. It is as if Piranesi did the sets-a magnificent sweep suggesting unseen depths extending far beyond the back stage area. The singing seems first rate to my fan-view knowledge. My personal favorite is Rockwell Blake, a tremendous villain, but I detected no weakness. The sound quality seemed good, as well, played through my stereo. A quirky production, but one I will watch again, despite its technical weakness.

A wonderful score beautifully performed, but recorded to less than home-video standards.Although an early opera, this is, in my opinion, one of Rossini`s finest scores. It has an abundance of melodies rarely encountered anywhere.As can be judged from the very poor recording, the performance was indeed very good.The picture is hazy, all colours fading into a yellowish-brown.The sound begins very badly, and actually gets worse as the opera progresses. I think that such sub-standard recordings should not be encouraged by the public, I`m really sorry I boght it...5 stars for the music and performance, zero for technical quality.

This is a gem! As so often happens the less famous houses produce something really worthwhile and musically this is very satisfying. The production is ambitious with a chorus of soldiers in early nineteenth century Ruritanian costumes doing risible Busby Berkely routines. In fact all the costumes are strange - the Scottish ones make you gasp. A little of the acting is from the school of Lillian Gish but there is nothing wrong with the music. The sound and picture quality is acceptable bearing in mind a 1985 production. I cannot recommend this too highly if you must have a DVD of this wonderful opera (though there are at least two excellent CD versions).

ripresa dal vivo di una serata storica che vedeva sul palcoscenico interpreti eccellenti. Livello artistico dell'esecuzione altissimo, ripresa audio non eccelsa ma che non preclude la godibilità della musica.

Réécoutant mon vieil enregistrement audio vinyle, avec Montserrat-Caballé et J. Carreras, une merveille, j’ai eu envie de « voir » cet opéra charnière dans l’œuvre de Rossini, et je n’ai trouvé que ce seul et vieux DVD enregistré à Turin en 1985. Pourquoi tant d’oubli ? Simplement parce que l’écriture rend l’interprétation extrêmement ardue par des registres étendus notamment dans l’aigu, avec des ornementations et des vocalises difficiles ; et puis il faut 2 ténors et 2 sopranos de premier plan que nous n’avons pas complètement ici bien que l’ensemble soit honorable.Bien évidemment, l’image médiocre et la prise de son lointaine traduisent ces 30 années, mais le spectacle est tout de même regardable avec de très beaux décors et costumes dans une mise en scène traditionnelle, mais qui correspond bien à l’époque ; c’est cependant l’un des premiers opéras où l’on a permis au chœur de se mouvoir. C’est aussi le premier opéra où les récitatifs sont accompagnés musicalement. Enfin, comme de coutume avec Rossini, cet opéra comporte de nombreux emprunts à commencer par l’ouverture, mais aussi certains airs plus ou moins retouchés, et d’autres qui seront repris ultérieurement. Mais il y a surtout de nombreuses belles pages originales que ce soient des airs ou des ensembles à forte puissance dramatique.La direction musicale manque d’âme, un peu soporifique par moments, mais elle met assez bien en valeur les moments orchestraux comme le début du second acte, elle sait aussi se déchainer, dans les moments de colère d’Elisabetta en particulier.On est heureux de retrouver en Elisabetta la belle soprano américaine que fut Lella Cuberli, au faite de sa splendeur, à la voix riche et expressive, au port de reine, exprimant bien ses émotions par un chant qui certes n’atteint pas la perfection de Monserrat-Caballé, mais en fait la meilleure interprète sur le plateau. Il faut goûter pleinement le dernier air « Bell’alme generose » d’un lyrisme et d’une virtuosité magnifiques, bien que la voix marque un peu de fatigue. Par contre la Matilde de Daniela Dessi , très engoncée dans une tenue peu avantageuse, manque terriblement de fraîcheur et de musicalité, même son air du premier acte n’arrive pas à exprimer ses sentiments , il manque d’émotion, elle devrait être pathétique et tendre, elle est neutre et assez inconsistante.R. Blake, malgré quelques problèmes dans le suraigu, dispose d’une voix agile qui lui fait dominer ce rôle ingrat de Norfolk truffé de difficultés et d’une ampleur vocale rarement atteinte dans le répertoire, avec des vocalises répétées. Par contre A. Savastano qui est Leicester manque de présence, de lyrisme et de musicalité avec des aigus limités ce qui nuit à l’expression, mais je veux être indulgent ayant dans l’oreille le merveilleux José Carreras.Quand aura-t-on un nouveau DVD avec les meilleurs artistes de notre temps? Imaginons Netrebko - Peretyatko – Kaufmann – Alagna, par exemple, ce n’est qu’un rêve…mais il arrive que les rêves se réalisent, alors attendons….

Ottima regia e ottimi interpreti ma l'opera non è all'altezza del grande Gioacchino Rossini (molto mediocre).Non credo che sia il caso di scrivere oltre