Verdi - Attila / Jérôme Savary · Riccardo Muti · Samuel Ramey

Amazon.com

A brilliant production has been lavished on this relatively early and seldom-produced Verdi masterpiece. The story of various efforts (ultimately successful) to assassinate Attila the Hun after his conquest of Rome inspired Verdi to compose music of considerable energy. The theme of foreign powers who dominate Italy being punished was especially close to his heart. La Scala assembled a cast equal to his music's strenuous demands. The star, unquestionably, is Samuel Ramey in the title role, but he is supported by a first-class cast and a chorus and orchestra who are completely at home in this music. The fact that some of the less familiar Italian operas reached the DVD format so early in its existence is a tribute to Muti's devotion to unjustly neglected works. So is the power and precision of this performance. --Joe McLellan

Description

Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila" was first staged just prior to the European revolutions of 1848. To operagoers, art seemed to mirror life, as the Roman Empire, overrun with barbarians, was an obvious symbol of 19th-century Italy under foreign domination. The role of Attila, one of Verdi's finest characters, requires a tremendous leading singer and actor, and world-renowned bass Samuel Ramey gives a peerless performance. As the courageous maiden who kills the tyrant with his own sword, soprano Cheryl Studer is forceful, but with vocal gentleness and expression. In this vibrant, sumptuous La Scala production conducted by Riccardo Muti, "Attila" emerges in all its dramatic and musical greatness.

Customer Reviews:

Can't believe it's not listed amoung Verdi's classics..........2005-03-21

Loved it from the moment Odabella (played masterfully by Cheryl Struder) jumped into Attila's face, and took his sword. She sings a song about killing him for vengeance, while he falls in love with this fiesty slave. Well sung and played by all four of the principles. It remains one of my favorites, out of about 90 operas I have seen. If you love Verdi, as I do, you won't regret buying this one.

Must have for Verdi fans...Probably coming up again??.......2004-12-05

Most of the production is said here. I just can say that this is probably the best opera of those "minor operas" verdi wrote. Picture is very good, considering the quality resolution at that time. The stereo sound is worth it. There's no choice to change or switch off subtitles.
This production is from 1991 and from Image. Now, when there are many productions from LaScala coming up, and the "I vespri Siciliani" (from Image too) was re-released by Opus Arte, i guess we can have this opera again in the market. So, take the chance. Is definitely a must have.

Why is this DVD out of print?.......2004-08-21

The Christianity was a bit much. I wanted to throw up. There was simply no plot at all. And this opera more than any I have ever seen exemplifies the stereotypical idea of opera with characters standing rooted to the spot just singing. That said, this was a marvelous experience. Rich, beautiful, powerful music. Ramey was nothing less than great. (And that wonderful open embracing smile during his curtain call!) Studer was the jewel of Attila. Everyone else was okay. I spent an afternoon searching every record store and website I knew of to find a copy of this glorious opera. There is simply none to be had except the $145 disc here on Amazon. No. (I noticed an "Et tu, Brute?" at the end (spelling of Brute?), Verdi (or his librettist) did love Shakespeare.) I loved and ejoyed the hell out of this opera, with the reservations given, fortunately I have the same cast, conductor and orchestra on CD, so I am not completely disappointed. But I would really like to have this DVD (I rented the one I just watched). The sets and scene changes were lush and delicious, the colors were beautiful, the music was beautiful. This is a wonderful opera. Maybe it will come back into print, it's alive in Europe I found out, but the DVD won't play in this country.

First-Rate Performance of a First-Rate Opera.......2003-12-23

I can't tell you how much this opera surprised me. The Amazon.com review has it right: Attila has been unjustly neglected. Surely this is because the title role is for a barritone rather than the more popular tenor or soprano voice. Nevertheless, Samuel Ramey is fantastic and Muti is in total command of the orchestra. They fully win over the notoriously demanding La Scala audience. Bottom-line: The music and performances are beautiful. Get this DVD and enjoy.

First rate performance of second-rate opera.......2003-10-18

Sorry, I'm going to be a dissenter here. Can't add anything to the evaluation of the performance itself, since the other reviewers have said all that needs to be said.
But the work itself is not intrinsically outstanding. Good, but not great. Since I take it that one's rating ought to be of the intrinsic artistic value of the performance, that means that significant weight ought to be placed on the merits of the underlying work.
I place emphasis on this for the following reason: based on the reviews here, I was thinking of purchasing Attila. After all, I reasoned, better buy a great performance of a lesser work than a so-so performance of a central work. Fortunately, I have access to a good college library which has an excellent opera collection. I'm glad I didn't spend my money.
If you have lots of money, and have seen Traviata, Don Giovanni, and Walkure four or five times each, then sure, treat yourself to something different. But if you are new to opera, and are looking for a great introduction to the form, there are plenty of very good to excellent performances of more central works available here. Go for those first.

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