Cavalli - La Calisto
by Herbert Wernicke
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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!
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