Cavalli - La Calisto
by Herbert Wernicke
List Price:
Our Price: $41.49
You Save: $4.49 (10%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $25.00 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Barry Banks, Louise Winter, Marcello Lippi, Maria Bayo, Rene JacobsDirector: Herbert Wernicke
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: French (Original Language); Dutch (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); German (Subtitled); English (Subtitled)
Format: Classical, Color, DVD-Video, Import, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 232 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-11-14
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
Movie Reviews of Cavalli - La Calisto
Movie Review: IF I COULD GIVE IT MORE STARS, I WOULD
Summary: 5 Stars
LA CALISTO has become one of my favorite operas. I like the kaleidoscopic range of voices. Marcello Lippi, in a taxing role, plays both Jove AND Jove impersonating Diana. The role requires him to sing in two totally different ranges. But the whole cast is excellent. Maria Bayo is very good here as la Calisto. A previous reviewer called this opera "camp," but it's too fine to be camp (despite the cross dressing). The classical subject (how the nymph Calisto is seduced by Jove, transformed into a bear by his jealous wife Hera, and eventually becomes the constellation Ursa Major) is very elegantly handled. The production has an intimate-yet-lavish feel, like a royal masque. It's conducted to perfection on period instruments by Rene Jacobs (in very fine form here), and sung to the hilt by the entire cast. And the music itself? As if Orpheus had written it, a cross between Monteverdi and Handel. I'll definitely be looking for more Cavalli in the future. Also included is a one hour "making of" feature, and a few other extras. The 2 disc set is exquisitely packaged by Harmonia Mundi. I give it my highest and most enthusiastic recommendation, particularly if you're a fan of baroque opera. The opera is geared to adults. It has phallic imagery and the sexual theme is sometimes treated explicity (although there's no nudity).
By the way, I fell so in love with this opera, that I did some reading on Francesco Cavalli, a composer of whom I was totally ignorant. Unfortunately, I was not able to find more of his operas on DVD, but for your information (and delectation), here's a little bit about him, quoted from BAKER'S BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF MUSICIANS, FOURTH EDITION: "A pupil of Monteverdi, his chief works were dramatic (41 operas), which show a marked advance, both in breadth of form and power of expression, rhythmic and melodic, over his master. His 'Giasone' (Venice, 1649) was applauded on all the chief stages of Italy; his 'Serse' (Venice, 1654) was the opera chosen for the marriage festivities of Louis XIV in 1660, and his 'Ercole amante' was written for the inaugeration of the hall of the Tuileries (1662). [Cavalli] was also a fine organist, and composed a noble Requiem, and much good church-music." Let's hope more of Cavalli's 41 operas find their way onto our contemporary stage!
Art House & International DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in Art House & International DVD Video
Jesus of NazarethLION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 2002-03-01; DVD
Best price: $13.49
Price in other shops:
The Ultimate GiftUltimate; Release date: 2007-08-21; DVD
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
Let The Right One InRelease date: 2009-03-10; DVD
Best price: $16.00
Price in other shops:
OnceTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-12-18; DVD
Best price: $8.39
Price in other shops:
Pride & PrejudiceUNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.; Release date: 2006-02-28; DVD
Best price: $6.42
Price in other shops:
State of Play (BBC Miniseries)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-02-26; DVD
Best price: $20.99
Price in other shops:
Les Miserables: The 10th Anniversary Dream Cast in Concert at London's Royal Albert HallWarner Brothers; Release date: 2008-02-19; DVD
Best price: $24.24
Price in other shops:
The InheritanceRelease date: 2004-12-07; DVD
Best price: $2.35
Price in other shops:
MilkUniversal; Release date: 2009-03-10; DVD
Best price: $9.89
Price in other shops:
Slumdog MillionaireTwentieth Century Fox; Release date: 2009-03-31; DVD
Best price: $10.40
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
![Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin / Fleming, Vargas, Hvorostovsky, Gergiev, Carsen [Metropolitan Opera 2007] Image](/images/Tchaikovsky-Eugene-Onegin-Fleming-Vargas-Hvorostovsky-Gergiev-Carsen-Metropolitan-Opera-2007-B000YCLRBA-X.jpg)
Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin / Fleming, Vargas, Hvorostovsky, Gergiev, Carsen [Metropolitan Opera 2007]Uni; Release date: 2007-12-18; DVD
Best price: $19.25
Price in other shops:
Monteverdi - L'Incoronazione Di Poppea / Leppard, Ewing, Bailey, Duesing, Lloyd, Gale, Clarey, GlyndebourneRelease date: 2004-02-10; DVD
Best price: $16.49
Price in other shops:
Smetana - The Bartered BrideRelease date: 2007-11-13; DVD
Best price: $19.97
Price in other shops:
Handel - Giulio Cesare (Glyndebourne Opera Festival 2006)Release date: 2006-05-16; DVD
Best price: $30.54
Price in other shops:
Gaetano Donizetti - La Fille du regiment / Dessay, Florez, Palmer, Corbelli, French, Campanella, Pelly (Royal Opera House 2007)Release date: 2008-04-15; DVD
Best price: $18.46
Price in other shops:
Leos Janacek - From the House of Dead / MCO, ASC, Boulez, Chereau (Festival Aix-en-Provence 2007)Release date: 2008-04-22; DVD
Best price: $19.26
Price in other shops:
Rameau - Les Indes Galantes / Petibon, Croft, Hartelius, Agnew, Rivenq, Berg, Strehl, Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Paris OperaRelease date: 2005-08-16; DVD
Best price: $25.65
Price in other shops:
Cavalli - La DidoneRelease date: 2007-09-25; DVD
Best price: $29.91
Price in other shops:
Vivaldi - Ercole su'l Termodonte / Il Complesso Barocco, Curtis (Spoleto Festival 2006)Release date: 2007-06-26; DVD
Best price: $21.95
Price in other shops:
Lully - Persee / Novacek, Auvity, Lenormand, Whicher, Laquerre, Coulombe, Niquet, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, TorontoRelease date: 2005-08-16; DVD
Best price: $20.03
Price in other shops: