Delibes: Lakmé
by Norman Ayrton
List Price:
Our Price: $16.48
You Save: $13.51 (45%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $13.00 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Huguette Tourangeau, Isobel Buchanan, Jennifer Bermingham, Joan Sutherland, Rosina RaisbeckDirector: Norman Ayrton
Brand: Kultur
Performer: Richard Bonynge
Performer: The Australian Opera Chorus
Writer: Léo Delibes
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Original Language)
Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 154 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-06-27
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Kultur Video
Movie Reviews of Delibes: Lakmé
Movie Review: Can't get much better than this
Summary: 5 Stars
Why some of the top 100 operas and ballets have been left alone by the powers that be who produce these for DVD or Blu ray is sometimes a mystery. I have a list of these. We had to wait a long time for a visually and audibly satisfying Faust (Gounod) till this year. Wonder when they will produce a hi-def Samson et Delilah (Saint Sains) with the ballet in it, or ballets like La Boutique Fantasque (never produced for the small screen to the best of my knowledge) and/or Gaite Parisienne where one has to content oneself with a 1950s film... This applies to Lakme as well, to an extent.
The video is not as grainy as one might expect, but if viewed on a 40+ inch HD TV may appear muddy. It has 'ingrained' if I may put it that way, subtitles in English. They cant be switched off... no complaints. Audio is just about as good as it can get, given the time of the recording. No complaints there either.
The singing and the eye to detail - those factors make this DVD worth possessing. One is totally taken in by Joan Sutherland's voice and its clarity and absolute control - whether singing the delicate lyrical pieces that dominate most of the opera or for that matter the bel-canto portions especially in the 'Bell Aria'. The supporting cast, although overshadowed by Sutherland's reputation and singing is just about as good as it can possibly get. Absolutely everyone.
The eye to detail is simply magnificent. The costumes, Indian dances and the props are as authentic as they can get (except Sutherland's own costume). The dances in the second act are fabulous. Yes, they are a slightly westernized and sanitized version of some classical Indian dances, but luckily without caricaturization of them. I hope any future versions of these don't make them look like something danced in some unrealistic exotic dance bars. The deities, the idols and the costumes are as near to the real thing and unoffensive as they can get.
I have no hesitation in giving this DVD the maximum. This recording would familiarize one almost instantly with the music and approach that would be a benchmark for any future productions of this rather instantly enjoyable Opera. If the lack of hi-def bothers you, you can switch the TV off and still enjoy the sound... BUY IT.
Summary of Delibes: Lakmé
Delibes' story is set in India in the mid-19th century when the British were imposing a suppressive rule over the many religious sects. Nilakantha, the leader of one of these forbidden sects, is secretly bringing up his daughter Lakmé as a priestess, to be worshipped as divine by his followers. He keeps her isolated in a temple which he has surrounded with a bamboo stockade, declaring the temple and garden to be sacred ground."Lakmé was a warm affirmation that Joan Sutherland is not only a great star, but she is a sensitive and subtle artist..." The Financial Review
Featuring: Joan Sutherland, Huguette Tourangeau, Henri Wilden, The Australian Opera Chorus, The Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Bonynge.
Similar DVD Movies
Massenet: Thais- The Metropolitan OperaUni; Release date: 2010-01-26; DVD
Best price: $15.80
Price in other shops:
Verdi: NabuccoUniversal Studios; Release date: 2005-03-08; DVD
Best price: $14.57
Price in other shops:
Ponchielli: La Gioconda / Vienna State OperaKultur; Release date: 2009-04-28; DVD
Best price: $16.48
Price in other shops:
Puccini: Turandot at the Metropolitan OperaUniversal Studios; Release date: 2003-08-12; DVD
Best price: $15.80
Price in other shops:
Offenbach: Les contes d'HoffmannKultur; Release date: 2003-10-14; DVD
Best price: $15.99
Price in other shops:
Rossini - Semiramide / Conlon, Anderson, Horne, Metropolitan OperaRelease date: 2000-12-12; Published: 2000-12-01; DVD
Best price: $15.23
Price in other shops:
Rossini: Armida (The Metropolitan Opera Live 2010)Release date: 2011-02-15; Published: 2011-03-04; DVD
Best price: $25.39
Price in other shops:
Donizetti: Don PasqualeRelease date: 2011-05-31; DVD
Best price: $15.56
Price in other shops:
Verdi - Rigoletto / Luciano Pavarotti, Ingvar Wixell, Edita Gruberova, Victoria Vergara, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Riccardo ChaillyUniversal Studios; Release date: 2006-07-04; Published: 2006; DVD
Best price: $15.80
Price in other shops:
Donizetti: Anna BolenaRelease date: 2011-11-01; Published: 2011-11-18; DVD
Best price: $21.47
Price in other shops: