Bizet - Les Pecheurs de Perles / Massis, Grassi, Nakajima, De Donato, Viotti, Venice Opera

Customer Reviews:

Massi and Bizet are the winners.......2007-08-07

Massi is great in the role of Leila. Nakajima is terrible (to say the less) in the role of Nadir, Grassi is OK in the role of Zurga. The production is horrible. Very italian!!! sometimes you feel like watching one of those popular variety shows presented by the RAI with some exotic (and very distracting) dancing at the background whilst the singers deliver their parts. It is particularly intrusive and disgusting the circus style dancing that takes place during the famous duet of Zurga and Nadir. The sound of this DVD is pretty bad as well. Overall two stars mostly because Bizet and Massi.

Absolute junk! poor Bizet.......2007-06-07

Where the hell did they find this tenor? To think I have a domingo recording of this and I just watched this junk! If you don't believe me watch it and count how many time Nakajima has to stop during the "je crois" aria in order to breath. He has no skills, no power, no breath and the high notes come out horrible. Oh my gosh. This opera is my favorite Bizet opera and now I feel betrayed. This guy does not deserve any role but perhaps to be a chorus singer. I realize your choices for Pearl Fishers are limited but don't waste your money. Just buy a CD recording instead

A BEAUTIFUL EVENING FOR EYE AND EAR.......2007-05-25

This creative production is very well sung, danced, conducted, staged, and filmed. Annick Massis has a world class voice and the baritone Luca Grassi also has a major beautiful voice. Yasu Nakajima is better than some of the other reviewers state, but just not a true world class tenor. Truthfully he doesn't act and often is looking at the conductor not relating to his fellow singing actors at all. He is however much better than just adequate. I've seen and heard a lot worse. The unit set works very well and the choreography most of the time is quite creative and highly effective; especially during the great Tenor and Baritone duet. I also found the camera work interesting and not distracting. It may be a long time before we get another DVD of this delightful score so let's be thankful for what we have. It works and has many fine moments. The conductor Marcello Viotti is excellent. In conclusion: very well sung and creatively produced and filmed.

Good opera, adequate perfprmance.......2007-01-28

Pearl Fishers has a lot of beautiful music and, since this is the only DVD of it available, I recommend it. Everyone is adequate but none is outstanding. Leila looks much too old for the great beauty she is supposed to be (this would not be a problem with for the theater audience) and occasionaly is a little harsh. The filming with its superimposed closeups is sometimes distracting. But even with these shortcomimgs, it is still an enjoyable DVD.

These Pearles are worth fishing for.......2006-04-27

Firstly let me say that the following is my personal opinion and it may not be yours; but think about what I have to say and hopefully you will give this little gem a dust and polish and see it for what it is.
Les P?cheurs de Perles is one of those rare operatic gems, just like the real thing. A very easy opera to stage, yet not staged enough. This production from the Teatro la Fenice di Venzia, achieves just that. It is an opera that does not demand powerful voices, so you do not require a Domingo/Milnes here. The production is first rate and the cast equally as good. Though being a traditionalist where sets & costumes are concerned, I actually find this set works.
My previous colleagues seem to disapprove of Nakajima's voice. Granted it is not a powerful voice, but as I stated in the beginning, this opera does not require it. We have been spoilt by having had the cream of the opera world sing it, but that does not have to be. As far as saying he's off pitch, he is not and as in the duet (the original and not the traditional); he & Grassi blend exceptionally well.
Annick Massis' L??la is just something again. I can not wait to see her in something else. She has actually recorded two Donizetti's Operas for Opera Rara: "Elvida" and "Francesca di Foix".
One has to remember that this is a performance of the ORIGINAL "Les P?cheurs de Perles" and not the one we have grown up with, so there are some changes that we have to come to terms with. Like Nadir's aria not scraping the paint off the ceiling, but gently letting it die away. The Duet melody we are use to in "Au fond du temple saint", actually appears as a trio at the end of the opera. There are other subtle changes as the opera goes on. I actually prefer this `Original' production and if looked at through fresh eyes, you will too.
This means not trying to compare it with previous versions, because you can not, it IS quite different and you have to forget all the others and treat it on it's own merits.
All in All; this is quite a performance and deserves to be added to your collection. After all; we are NOT going to get another DVD production for many, many years to come; if at all. I welcome this work into my collection with no reservation.

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